South Africa

By UN classification South Africa is a middle-income country with an abundant supply of resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors, a stock exchange that ranks among the top twenty in the world, and a modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centres throughout the entire region. South Africa is ranked 25th in the world in terms of GDP (PPP) as of 2007.Advanced development is significantly localised around four areas: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Pretoria/Johannesburg. Beyond these four economic centres, development is marginal and poverty is still prevalent despite government efforts. Consequently the vast majority of South Africans are poor. However, key marginal areas have experienced rapid growth recently. Such areas include Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay; Rustenburg area; Nelspruit area; Bloemfontein; Cape West Coast; and the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

Demographic Data

Economic Data

Cultural & Other Data

GDP (PPP, $bn)

489.7

Capital

Pretoria

Area (sq. km.)

1,219,912

GDP Real

Growth (%)

2.8

Other Large Cities

Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban

Population (million)

49.05

PerCap GDP ($)

10,000

Primary Language

English

Population

Growth %

0.281

Prime Lending

Rate (%)

13.17

Urban

Population %

61

% Population

Under 15yrs

28.9

Inflation Rate%

11.3

Urban Growth %

1.4

Population below

poverty line (%)

50

Unemployment%

21.7

Literacy

(% of population)

86.4

Agricultural Workers

(% of population)

9

Foreign Direct

Investment($bn)

99.61

Education spending

as % of GDP

5.4

Industrial Workers

(% of population)

26

Debt-External

($bn)

39.69

CPI Score

(1-10)*

4.9

Service Workers

(% of population)

65

Exports ($bn)

81.47

Corporate Income Tax %

28

Labor Force (mil)

18.22

Imports ($bn)

87.30

Ease of Doing

Business Ranking **

32

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE

05/25/09 $1 = 8.32 ZAR

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