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)
15 August 1971 (from UK)
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)
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
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, English, Farsi, Urdu
Exports
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
External Debt
$46,070,000,000 $
$14,930,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 7.9576 (2008 est.), 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2008 est.), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.700%
4.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
1
Location
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Area
1,219,090 km sq
760 km sq
Coastline
2,798 km
161 km
Climate
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
