South Africa 

• Area: 1,219,000 sq km (equal to France and Spain combined)
• Population: 44 mill, split into: 77% Africans, 11% whites, 9% Coloureds (descendants of white settlers, slaves and Africans, who speak English and Afrikaans and comprise majority in the Western Cape) and 3% Indians.
• Life expectancy: 50.8 years
• Official languages: there 11 official languages (English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Ndebele, Sotho, Setswana, siSwati, Venda and Tsonga) Religion: 68% Christianity, 28.5% indigenous beliefs, 2% Islam, 1.5% Hinduism
• Political system: constitutional multiparty democracy, with 16 parties represented in the Parliament, and an independent judiciary. The African National Congress (ANC) is the majority party.
• Head of State: The President, elected by the Parliament from its members. Current President is Jacob Zuma (ANC).
• Administrative division: 9 provinces, each with its own government
• Per Capita GDP (ppp USD): 11,110
• GDP Growth (est. 2008): 3% Inflation (est.2008): 12% based on CPI inflation
• Currency: The rand (R), often called the “buck”
• Key economic sectors: Manufacturing, automotive, tourism, finance, agriculture, ICT and electronics
• Internet users per 1000: 109
• Cellular subscribers per 1000: 734 

Cape Town

• Age: 350 years
• Polulation: around 4 million, split into: 50% Coloureds, 26% Africans, 23% whites and rest of Asian descent
• Administrative status: legislative capital of South Africa, the seat of parliament and the capital of Western Cape province
• Main languages: Afrikaans (mother tongue of many whites and coloureds), Xhosa (the language of most blacks) and English (the effective linqua franca)

Last updated: November 26, 2009