South Africa Republic of South Africa

Capital Pretoria note - Cape Town is the legislative center and Bloemfontein the judicial center Area 471,008 sq mi 1,219,912 sq km Population 42,768,678 est 2003 Largest city Cape Town pop. 2,733,800 Languages 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu Peoples Black 75.2% (including Zulu, Venda, Ndebele, Nguni, Mpondo, Sotho) White 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6% Religion Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Islam 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5% Life Expectancy total population: 44.19 years male: 44.39 years female: 43.98 years (2004 est.) Literacy ttotal population: 86.4% male: 87% female: 85.7% (2003 est.) Suffrage 18 years of age; universal Government Republic back to Africa Map