31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared) 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
Religions
Muslim 100%
Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)
Languages
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001 census)
Exports
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
External Debt
$2,816,000,000 $
$46,070,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 7.9576 (2008 est.), 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
5.500%
1.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Area
1,030,700 km sq
1,219,090 km sq
Coastline
754 km
2,798 km
Climate
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
