South Africa

Abstract

The Republic of South Africa (generally referred to as South Africa) is one of the countries comprising the UN subregion of Southern Africa. It has a huge land border (just over 3,000 miles) with six neighbouring states. The population of South Africa is approximately 49 million (CIA 201le) that is comprised of black African 79%, white 7.9%, coloured¹ 8.9%, and Indian/Asian 2.5% (CIA 201le). By comparative European, North American and Australasian standards the population of South Africa is relatively young with a median age of 25 (CIA 20l1e). South Africa is a middle-income country with a GDP per capita of $10,700 (CIA 201le). Income inequalities are severe between various ethnic and racial groups, but particularly so between whites and the majority black African population. On the Human Development Index, South Africa ranks 123^rd out of the 187 countries included in the 2011 data.