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)
5 July 1962 (from France)
Religions
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)
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages
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)
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Exports
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
External Debt
$46,070,000,000 $
$4,699,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 7.9576 (2008 est.), 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.700%
3.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
2
Location
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Area
1,219,090 km sq
2,381,741 km sq
Coastline
2,798 km
998 km
Climate
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
