Sheet 161 of 195 · AfricaZAF · 30.5°S 23.2°E

South Africa

Republic of South Africa

Capital: Pretoria
Population: 64.7 million 2025
Area: 1,221,037 km²
Neighbours: 6

South Africa hatched, Pretoria marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 28.5°S 24.7°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

South Africa lies in Southern Africa and shares land borders with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. With 1,221,037 km², it is about the size of Mali and Angola and ranks 24th of 195 by area.

The World Bank counts 64.7 million people in 2025: 24th of 194 worldwide and 6th of 54 in Africa. That works out at 53 people per km². The urban share of the population was 63.8% in 2025.

In 2025, GDP per capita stood at US$6,598 in current US dollars: 105th of 191 worldwide, 6th of 52 in Africa. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 66.3 years.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres. From 34.8°S to 22.1°S, it spans about 1,405 km north to south. The point on the opposite side of the Earth from Pretoria lies in the North Pacific Ocean, about 700 km from the nearest land, the United States.

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Capital: Pretoria
Population: 64,747,319 2025
Area: 1,221,037 km²
24th of 195
Region: Africa
Southern Africa
Languages: Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Currency: South African rand (ZAR, R)
Demonym: South African
Calling code: +27
Internet domain: .za
ISO codes: ZA · ZAF · 710
Official name in local languages: Republiek van Suid-Afrika Afrikaans
IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika Southern Ndebele
Rephaboliki ya Afrika-Borwa Northern Sotho
Rephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa Southern Sotho
IRiphabhulikhi yeNingizimu Afrika Swazi
Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa Tswana
Riphabliki ra Afrika Dzonga Tsonga
Riphabuḽiki ya Afurika Tshipembe Venda
IRiphabliki yaseMzantsi Afrika Xhosa
IRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika Zulu

How it compares Africa: 54 countries

Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.
Measure	Figure	World	Africa
Population	64,747,3192025, World Bank	24th of 194	6th of 54
Area	1,221,037 km²world-countries	24th of 195	9th of 54
GDP	US$427.2 billion2025, World Bank, current US$	39th of 191	1st of 52
GDP per capita	US$6,5982025, World Bank, current US$	105th of 191	6th of 52
Population density	53 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries	132nd of 194	32nd of 54
Life expectancy	66.3 years2024, World Bank	160th of 194	24th of 54
Urban population	63.8%2025, World Bank	95th of 194	13th of 54
Forest area	18.8% of land2024, World Bank	124th of 194	30th of 54
Population growth	+1.15% a year2025, World Bank	90th of 194	46th of 54
Internet users	78.4%2024, World Bank	102nd of 188	4th of 53
Fertility rate	2.21 births per woman2024, World Bank	90th of 194	50th of 54
Land neighbours	6world-countries; among the 195	20th of 195	7th of 54

Closest in areaMali, Angola and Niger

Closest in populationFrance, United Kingdom and Tanzania

Neighbours 6 countries by land, nearest capital first

Botswana261 km
Pretoria to Gaborone, capital to capital
Eswatini309 km
Pretoria to Lobamba, capital to capital
Lesotho408 km
Pretoria to Maseru, capital to capital
Mozambique437 km
Pretoria to Maputo, capital to capital
Zimbabwe924 km
Pretoria to Harare, capital to capital
Namibia1,183 km
Pretoria to Windhoek, capital to capital

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres: Southern and Eastern
Capital: Pretoria
25.71°S 28.23°E
Northernmost latitude: 22.15°S
Southernmost latitude: 34.79°S
Westernmost longitude: 16.45°E
Easternmost longitude: 32.89°E
North to south: about 1,405 km
Antipode of Pretoria: 25.71°N 151.77°W
in the North Pacific Ocean, about 700 km from the nearest land (United States)