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 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
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), English commonly used as a second language
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
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
External Debt
$137,000,000,000 $
$47,560,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2008 est.), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (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
10.000%
1.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Area
11,586 km sq
1,219,090 km sq
Coastline
563 km
2,798 km
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
