Situated in Southern Africa, South Africa 🇿🇦 (officially Republic of South Africa) is one of the most interesting places you can land on when you spin the globe. With a population of about 64.0 million and a total area of 1,221,037 km², it offers far more than its statistics suggest.
Whether you discovered South Africa through our random country spinner or searched for it directly, this guide covers everything you need to know: the flag, the capital city of Pretoria, population figures, languages, currency, geography and a collection of memorable facts.
Where is South Africa located?
South Africa lies in Southern Africa, in the Africa region of the world. Measuring roughly 1,221,037 square kilometres, it ranks 26th in the world by total area.
South Africa has a coastline as well as land borders with Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Zimbabwe — a crossroads position that has influenced its culture and economy for centuries.
Pretoria serves as the capital — the centre of government and, for most travellers, the gateway to everything else South Africa has to offer.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Who lives in South Africa?
South Africa is home to approximately 64.0 million residents — the 24th largest population on the planet. Its people are known as South Africans.
South Africa is multilingual: the languages spoken include Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. This linguistic variety reflects the country's layered history and the many communities that shaped it.
Like every country featured on Spin a Country, South Africa rewards curiosity — its festivals, food and everyday customs tell a story that statistics alone never can.
Good to know before you go
The official currency is the South African rand (ZAR, symbol R). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for South Africa is +27. Websites from the country typically use the .za internet domain.
If South Africa came up on your random spin, take five minutes to memorise its flag, capital (Pretoria) and population — these are the three facts most often asked in geography quizzes.
Neighbouring countries
South Africa shares borders with 6 countries:
Fun facts about South Africa
- South Africa's flag emoji is 🇿🇦 — its two-letter country code is ZA and its three-letter code is ZAF.
- South Africa covers 1,221,037 km², ranking 26th in the world by area.
- With about 64.0 million people, South Africa holds the 24th spot in the world population ranking.
- South Africa is a member state of the United Nations.
- South Africa shares borders with 6 countries.
South Africa — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of South Africa?
- The capital of South Africa is Pretoria / Bloemfontein / Cape Town.
- What is the population of South Africa?
- South Africa has a population of approximately 64,007,187 people, ranking 24th in the world.
- Where is South Africa located?
- South Africa is located in Southern Africa, part of the Africa region.
- What language is spoken in South Africa?
- The languages spoken in South Africa include Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
- What currency is used in South Africa?
- South Africa uses the South African rand (ZAR).
