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 1811 (from Spain)
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)
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
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)
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Exports
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
External Debt
$46,070,000,000 $
$89,600,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 7.9576 (2008 est.), 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2.147 (2008 est.), 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004) note: On 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.700%
1.200%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
1
Location
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Area
1,219,090 km sq
912,050 km sq
Coastline
2,798 km
2,800 km
Climate
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
