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Military of South Africa

Military branches:South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), Joint Operations Command, Joint Support Command, Military Intelligence, Military Health Service (2007)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; women have a long history of military service in noncombat roles dating back to World War I (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 10,354,769
females age 18-49: 10,626,550 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,927,757
females age 18-49: 4,609,071 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 512,407
females age 18-49: 506,078 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.7% (2006)
Military - note:with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete

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

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

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