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 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
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
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
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
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
External Debt
$10,430,000,000 $
$46,070,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 117.8 (2008 est.), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004)
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
1.500%
1.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
4
1
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Area
923,768 km sq
1,219,090 km sq
Coastline
853 km
2,798 km
Climate
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
