Republic of South Africa

Area: 1 219 912 km²

Population: 43 997 828 (2007)

Population density: 36.1 pers./km²

Capital: Pretoria

Government type: Presidential republic

Official language: Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu

Ethnic groups: Black 79%, White 9.6%, Mullato 8.9%, Indians and Asians 2.5%

Religion: Christian 79.7 %, Muslim 1.5%, other 2.3%, none 15.1%

Currency: South African rend (ZAR)

Time zone: UTC+2

Administrative divisions: South Africa is divided into 9 provinces, provinces are subdivided into 52 districts, which are further subdivided into 231 municipalities

Highest point: Njesuthi 3 408 m

Longest river: Orange River 2 200 km

Largest cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth

Calling code: +27

Internet TLD: .za