South Africa
Out Score
coming soon.
Out Score coming soon.
We're freshly researching the laws for every identity lens against our updated methodology. South Africa's scores will appear here once they're published.
Learn about South Africa
Beyond the scoreLearn about South Africa.Official names, languages, local time and practical context for understanding South Africa beyond its legal score.
Destination overview
About South Africa.
Where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans Meet
South Africa occupies the southern tip of the African continent, where two great oceans converge around the rocky headlands of the Cape. The landscape shifts dramatically from the flat Highveld plateau and the Drakensberg escarpment to subtropical coastline, semi-arid Karoo scrubland and the lush winelands of the Western Cape. Few countries pack this much geographical variety into a single border.
Read more about South Africa
Safari, Coast and Everything Between
The country is home to some of the continent's most accessible wildlife reserves. Kruger National Park stretches across a vast swathe of the north-east, while private reserves in Limpopo and Mpumalanga offer close-up encounters with lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo. Away from the bush, the Garden Route threads along a forested southern coastline between Mossel Bay and Storms River, and the Boulders penguin colony near Simon's Town is one of the more unexpected delights you will find anywhere in Africa.
Cities Built on Contrast
Cape Town is framed by Table Mountain, its flat-topped silhouette unmistakable above the Atlantic seaboard and the historic Bo-Kaap neighbourhood. Johannesburg pulses with a different energy entirely, a sprawling metropolis where Soweto's cultural history, the Maboneng precinct's galleries and the world-class restaurants of Sandton sit within a short drive of each other. Durban brings warm Indian Ocean water, a strong Zulu and South Asian heritage, and a street food scene built around bunny chow.
Eleven Languages, One Country
South Africa's constitution recognises eleven official languages, a fact that reflects the depth and diversity of the cultures woven into daily life here. Zulu, Xhosa and Sotho greetings will carry you far in rural communities, while English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas. This multilingual character extends into music, food and architecture, producing a country that rewards curious travellers willing to move beyond the headline attractions.
Official and Indigenous Names
- Republic of South Africa (English)
- Republiek van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans)
- iRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika (Zulu)
- iRiphablikhi yomZantsi Afrika (Xhosa)
Region
- Southern Africaall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Continent
- Africaall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Resident population
62,027,503
2022 data
Capitals and seats of government
- Tshwane, Pretoria · Administrative capital
- iKapa, Cape Town · Legislative capital
- Mangaung, Bloemfontein · Judicial capital
Currency
- South African Randall, Applies to all constituent destinations (ZAR · R)
Driving side
- leftall, Applies to all constituent destinations side of the road
Electricity
Type N sockets increasingly common alongside legacy Type M.
Type M (large 3-pin) is the standard South African plug. Type C and N adapters are widely accepted.
Type M (large 3-pin) is standard. Type C and N adapters are widely accepted.
Languages
Afrikaansall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · ISO 639-3: afr
Englishall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · ISO 639-3: eng
Useful phrases in English
- Hello
- Hello
- Goodbye
- Goodbye
- Please
- Please
- Thank you
- Thank you
- Excuse me
- Excuse me
Northern Sothoall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous5, 6 and 7, Applies to Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West · ISO 639-3: nso
South African Sign Languageall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · ISO 639-3: sfs
Southern Ndebeleall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous4, 5, 6 and 7, Applies to KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West · ISO 639-3: nbl
Show 11 more languages
Southern Sothoall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous5, 6 and 7, Applies to Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West · ISO 639-3: sot
Swatiall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous4, 5, 6 and 7, Applies to KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West · ISO 639-3: ssw
Tsongaall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous5, 6 and 7, Applies to Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West · ISO 639-3: tso
Tswanaall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous5, 6 and 7, Applies to Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West · ISO 639-3: tsn
Vendaall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous5, 6 and 7, Applies to Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West · ISO 639-3: ven
Xhosaall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous1, 4, 5 and 6, Applies to Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga · ISO 639-3: xho
Zuluall, Applies to all constituent destinations
Official by lawall, Applies to all constituent destinations · Indigenous4, 5 and 6, Applies to KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga · ISO 639-3: zul
Khoekhoegowab2, 7, 8 and 9, Applies to Free State, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape
Indigenous2, 7, 8 and 9, Applies to Free State, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape · ISO 639-3: naq
Hlubi1 and 7, Applies to Eastern Cape and North West
Indigenous1 and 7, Applies to Eastern Cape and North West · ISO 639-3: hlb
Phuthi1 and 7, Applies to Eastern Cape and North West
Indigenous1 and 7, Applies to Eastern Cape and North West · ISO 639-3: ssw
Bhaca1, Applies to Eastern Cape
Indigenous1, Applies to Eastern Cape · ISO 639-3: bew
Current time and time zone
- all, Applies to all constituent destinations
South Africa Standard TimeSAST
Africa/Johannesburg