| |
|
Comparative area: |
Slightly less than twice
the size of Texas |
|
Climate: |
Mostly semiarid,
subtropical along coast |
|
Terrain: |
Vast interior plateau
rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain |
|
Natural hazards: |
Prolonged droughts |
|
Government type: |
Republic |
|
Capital: |
Pretoria |
|
Currency: |
Rand |
|
Language: |
Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
|
Religion: |
Christian, Muslim, Hindu,
indigenous beliefs |
|
Population: |
43,586,097 (2001
est) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
60 deaths/1,000 live
births (2001 est.) |
|
Life expectancy: |
48 years (2001
est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS-adult prevalence
rate: |
19.94% (1999 est.) |
|
Literacy rate: |
Male: 82%
Female: 82% (1995 est.) |
|
Percent of population
below poverty line: |
50% (2000 est.) |
|
Number of telephone
lines: |
5,075,000 (1999) |
|
Number of televisions: |
5,200,000 (1997) |
|
Number of internet
users: |
1,820,000 (2000) |
|
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