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Geography of South Africa

Location:Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates:29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline:2,798 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate:mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain:vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Natural resources:gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 12.1%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.11% (2005)
Irrigated land:14,980 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:prolonged droughts
Environment - current issues:lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

South Africa Quickstats

  • Population: 43,997,828
  • Area: 1,219,912 sq km
  • Density: 39 /km² (163rd)
  • GDP (total): $570.2 billion (18th)
  • GDP (per capita): $12,161 (57th)
  • Literacy: 86.4%

Languages of South Africa

Useful to know

  • Currency: South African rand (ZAR)
  • Dial code: +27

International Trade

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