← All countries
South Africa
Republic of South Africa
Key facts
- Capital
- Pretoria
- Region
- Africa · Southern Africa
- Languages
- Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
- Currency
- South African Rand (ZAR)
- Area
- 1,221,037 km²
- Land borders
- 6 countries
- Landlocked
- No
- UN member
- Yes
BRICS
Physicians
World Bank · dashed line = projection
Birth rateDeath rateNet migrationPopulation aged 0 to 14Population aged 65 and overPopulation densityTotal fertility rateTotal populationUrban populationExtreme povertyGini indexGross National Income per capita (2017 PPP$)Human Development Index (HDI)AgricultureCurrent account balanceExportsForeign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP)GDP per capita, current pricesGDP per capita, purchasing power parityGDP, current prices, purchasing power parityGNI per capita (Atlas method)Gross domestic product (GDP), current pricesImportsIndustryInflation rate (consumer prices, annual %)International tourist arrivalsReal GDP growth (annual %)Remittances receivedServicesTrade opennessAdult literacy ratePrimary school enrollmentPublic spending on educationSchool enrollment, secondary (% gross)Tertiary education enrollmentAir pollution (PM2.5)CO2 emissionsCO2 emissions per capitaForest areaRenewable energyLand areaHealth expenditureHealth expenditure per personInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthMaternal mortality ratioPhysiciansUnder-5 mortality rateAccess to electricityInternet usersMobile phone subscriptionsFemale labour force participationLabour force participationUnemployment rateYouth unemploymentArmed forces personnelMilitary expenditureMilitary expenditure (US$)Women in parliamentGeneral government gross debt (% of GDP)General government net debt (% of GDP)Tax revenueFields Medal laureates (by country of birth)Nobel laureates (by country of birth)Research and development spendingHomicide rateSatellites in orbit (by owner country)Formula One drivers' world titlesGrand Slam singles titles (men)Mega-events hosted (World Cup + Olympics)Olympic gold medals, Summer Games (cumulative)Olympic medals, Summer Games (cumulative)Rugby World Cup titlesWorld Cups hosted (men's football)
Demographics
Birth rate
18.5#83 of 199
2024· World Bank
Death rate
9.24#52 of 199
2024· World Bank
Net migration
146.4K#9 of 199
2025· World Bank
Population aged 0 to 14
25.7%#89 of 199
2025· World Bank
Population aged 65 and over
6.9%#108 of 199
2025· World Bank
Population density
53 /km²#136 of 197
2024· World Bank
Total fertility rate
2.21#90 of 199
2024· World Bank
Total population
62.33M#24 of 195
2024· IMF
Forecast 2031: 68.50M
Urban population
63.8%#98 of 199
2025· World Bank
Development
Economy
Agriculture
2.8%#112 of 158
2025· World Bank
Current account balance
-0.4%#74 of 166
2025· rank as of 2024· World Bank
Exports
31.4%#95 of 168
2025· rank as of 2024· World Bank
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP)
-0.5%#171 of 183
2025· World Bank
GDP per capita, current prices
$6,435#112 of 195
2024· IMF
Forecast 2031: $8,438
GDP per capita, purchasing power parity
$15.9K#111 of 195
2024· IMF
Forecast 2031: $18.6K
GDP, current prices, purchasing power parity
$990.74B#33 of 195
2024· IMF
Forecast 2031: $1.27T
GNI per capita (Atlas method)
$6,270#100 of 182
2025· World Bank
Gross domestic product (GDP), current prices
$401.08B#41 of 195
2024· IMF
Forecast 2031: $577.97B
Imports
29.5%#120 of 168
2025· rank as of 2024· World Bank
Industry
24.1%#84 of 158
2025· World Bank
Inflation rate (consumer prices, annual %)
3.2%#82 of 169
2025· World Bank
International tourist arrivals
3.89M#33 of 167
2020· rank as of 2019· World Bank
Real GDP growth (annual %)
1.1%#159 of 192
2025· IMF
Forecast 2031: 1.8%
Remittances received
0.2%#136 of 160
2025· rank as of 2024· World Bank
Services
63.1%#44 of 158
2025· World Bank
Trade openness
60.9%#113 of 168
2025· rank as of 2024· World Bank
Education
Adult literacy rate
91.2%
2024· World Bank
Primary school enrollment
101.8%#62 of 159
2023· World Bank
Public spending on education
6.0%#20 of 158
2024· rank as of 2022· World Bank
School enrollment, secondary (% gross)
104.1%#35 of 141
2023· World Bank
Tertiary education enrollment
23.5%#97 of 124
2023· World Bank
Environment
Geography
Health
Health expenditure
8.9%#46 of 192
2023· World Bank
Health expenditure per person
$537#84 of 191
2023· World Bank
Infant mortality rate
24.2#137 of 194
2024· World Bank
Life expectancy at birth
66.3 yrs#165 of 199
2024· World Bank
Maternal mortality ratio
118.0#133 of 194
2023· World Bank
Physicians
0.79
2022· World Bank
Under-5 mortality rate
35.1#142 of 194
2024· World Bank
Infrastructure
Labour
Military
Politics
Public finance
Science
Society
Space
Sport
Davis Cup titles
1#9 of 13
2026· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
Formula One drivers' world titles
1#13 of 15
2025· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
Golf major championships (men)
22#3 of 17
2026· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
Grand Slam singles titles (men)
1#20 of 24
2026· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
Mega-events hosted (World Cup + Olympics)
1.00#20 of 28
2026· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
Forecast 2034: 1.00
Olympic gold medals, Summer Games (cumulative)
28#33 of 103
2024· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
Olympic medals, Summer Games (cumulative)
97#34 of 139
2024· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
Rugby World Cup titles
4#1 of 4
2023· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
World Cups hosted (men's football)
1.00#7 of 19
2026· Official competition results (IOC, FIFA, World Rugby, IHF, FIBA, Grand Slams, FIA, ASO, France Football)
Forecast 2034: 1.00
Values show the latest observed year for each indicator. Ranks compare countries on the most recent year with broad coverage. Forecasts are the source's own projections.