South Africa
At a glance
- Official languages
- Zulu, Afrikaans, Venda, Northern Sotho, Tsonga +7 more
- Currency
- Rand (R)
- Government
- Apartheid
- Legislature
- Parliament of South Africa
- Demonym
- South African
- Time zones
- UTC+02:00, UTC+03:00
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +27
- Internet TLD
- .za
- ISO 3166
- ZA
- Established
- 1910
- Highest point
- Mafadi (3,450 m (11,319 ft))
- National anthem
- national anthem of Mzansi
Facts via Wikidata.
Economy and developmentUpper middle income
Ranks are among sovereign countries with data; ★ marks a top-5% finish. Sources: World Bank Open Data and Our World in Data (UNDP, UN, V-Dem; CC BY 4.0). Each figure is the most recent year available.
Alliances & Organisations5 full memberships
Regional
Full memberDashed border = Candidate / ApplicantItalic = Dialogue / Observer
Leadership History15 leaders · click to expand
Cyril Ramaphosa✦ Current
2018–PresentPresident
Jacob Zuma
2009–2018President
Kgalema Motlanthe
2008–2009President
Thabo Mbeki
1999–2008President
Nelson Mandela
1994–1999President
F.W. de Klerk
1989–1994State President
⚠️ P.W. Botha
1978–1989State President
⚠️ B.J. Vorster
1966–1978Prime Minister
⚠️ H.F. Verwoerd
1958–1966Prime Minister
⚠️ J.G. Strijdom
1954–1958Prime Minister
⚠️ D.F. Malan
1948–1954Prime Minister
Jan Smuts
1939–1948Prime Minister
J.B.M. Hertzog
1924–1939Prime Minister
Jan Smuts
1919–1924Prime Minister
Louis Botha
1910–1919Prime Minister
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Cyril Ramaphosa✦ Current | President | 2018–Present |
| Jacob Zuma | President | 2009–2018 |
| Kgalema Motlanthe | President | 2008–2009 |
| Thabo Mbeki | President | 1999–2008 |
| Nelson Mandela | President | 1994–1999 |
| F.W. de Klerk | State President | 1989–1994 |
| ⚠️ P.W. Botha | State President | 1978–1989 |
| ⚠️ B.J. Vorster | Prime Minister | 1966–1978 |
| ⚠️ H.F. Verwoerd | Prime Minister | 1958–1966 |
| ⚠️ J.G. Strijdom | Prime Minister | 1954–1958 |
| ⚠️ D.F. Malan | Prime Minister | 1948–1954 |
| Jan Smuts | Prime Minister | 1939–1948 |
| J.B.M. Hertzog | Prime Minister | 1924–1939 |
| Jan Smuts | Prime Minister | 1919–1924 |
| Louis Botha | Prime Minister | 1910–1919 |
Power over timeThe Power Atlas →
The powerline is the headline share of world power, running from the state’s first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.
Conflicts since 19451 interstate war · click to expand
| Conflict | Years | Against | Combat deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korean War [ 9 ]● | 1950–1953 | North Korea,China,Soviet Union | 2,568,927–4,096,927 |
Bold = principal belligerent. Source: Wikipedia, “List of interstate wars since 1945.”
Billionaires8 · $42.2B combined · click to expand
| # | Name | Net worth | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 193 | Johann Rupert & family(inherited) | $15.1B | Fashion & Retail |
| 311 | Nicky Oppenheimer & family(inherited) | $10.6B | Metals & Mining |
| 1144 | Patrice Motsepe | $3.8B | Metals & Mining |
| 1227 | Koos Bekker | $3.5B | Media & Entertainment |
| 1286 | Michiel Le Roux | $3.3B | Finance & Investments |
| 1758 | Jannie Mouton & family | $2.4B | Finance & Investments |
| 2255 | Christoffel Wiese | $1.8B | Fashion & Retail |
| 2389 | Paul Van Zuydam(inherited) | $1.7B | Manufacturing |
Source: Forbes real-time billionaires (via the rtb-api project). Net worth as of the latest monthly snapshot.
National Teams
South Africa on the international stage. Click a card for the full record.
National Teams Champions
Every major championship won by South Africa's national teams, newest first. 6 in total.
| Year | Date | Champion | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025-06-14 | South Africa | World Test Championship |
| 2023 | 2023-10-28 | South Africa | Rugby World Cup |
| 2019 | — | South Africa | Rugby World Cup |
| 2007 | — | South Africa | Rugby World Cup |
| 1996 | 1996-02-03 | South Africa | Africa Cup of Nations |
| 1995 | — | South Africa | Rugby World Cup |
League Hubs
Domestic league portals that operate in South Africa: 2 leagues.
Provinces
9 entries listed under South Africa. Click any to see its metros and footprint.
South Africa metro footprint
22 metrosPolygons shaded by composite tier. Hover for rank, click to open the metro page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.