International South Africa relations

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 79 relations tracked

South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent. It has a diverse and complex history, with a mix of African, European, and Asian cultural influences.

Population

59.3M#25 of 203

Land area

1.2M km²#24 of 203

GDP

$427.2B#40 of 197

Military expenditure

$2.8B#57 of 167

Global influence

#39Medium

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Closest relations Strained relations South Africa No data

The country has a population of around 59 million people and is home to a variety of ethnic groups, including the Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho, and Bapedi. The official languages are English, Afrikaans, and isiZulu.

South Africa has a mixed economy that is the second largest in Africa and is heavily dependent on natural resources such as gold, platinum, and diamonds. The country has a well-developed financial sector and is a major exporter of agricultural products.

Politically, South Africa is a parliamentary democracy with a president who serves as both the head of state and government. The country has a long history of civil rights activism and has made significant progress in addressing issues of racial inequality, although challenges remain.

Geographically, South Africa is a diverse country with a range of landscapes, including mountains, grasslands, and forests. It is also home to a number of national parks and wildlife reserves, which are important for both conservation and tourism.

Geography & terrain

Terrain rises from narrow coastal belts to a broad interior plateau (the Highveld), separated by the Great Escarpment and Drakensberg mountains. Climate ranges from Mediterranean in the southwest to subtropical and semi-arid elsewhere. It has an extensive coastline on both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The escarpment offers some inland defense, but the long, accessible coast has historically made it easy to land forces and project power from the sea.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, South Africa Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town (2.9M people, 4.9% of total population)
Population	59.3M (#25 of 203 countries)
Land area	1.2M km² (#24 of 203 countries)
Main religion	Christianity
Life expectancy	64 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	South African Rand
Main language(s)	English, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (11 official languages)
Government type	Parliamentary republic
Time zone	UTC+2.0
GDP	$427.2B (#40 of 197 countries)
GDP per capita	$6.6K (#110 of 198 countries)
International calling code	+27
Driving side	Left
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	12
Military expenditure	$2.8B
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$1.3B
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$850.8M
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	$709.0M
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	0.7%
Military expenditure per capita	$48
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member
Other groups	G20 BRICS African Union Commonwealth of Nations

Shares a land border with 6 countries — here is how those relations stand

South Africa's relations with its neighbors

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #39 Medium International Influence

South Africa's actions have a limited effect on the world or on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of South Africa by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.