USD to ZAR Rate Chart

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USD Popular Exchange Rates(today)

Exchange Rate Last day
USD to GBP rate 0.8183 ▲ 0.8168
USD to EUR rate 0.94035 ▲ 0.9392
USD to AUD rate 1.55763 ▲ 1.5568
USD to CAD rate 1.34762 ▲ 1.3481
USD to NZD rate 1.67957 ▲ 1.6791
USD to TRY rate 27.2086 ▲ 27.1986
USD to DKK rate 7.01162 ▲ 7.001
USD to AED rate 3.67299 ▲ 3.673
USD to NOK rate 10.75951 ▲ 10.7536
USD to SEK rate 11.04682 ▼ 11.1165
USD to CHF rate 0.90996 ▲ 0.9076
USD to JPY rate 148.59567 ▲ 148.34
USD to HKD rate 7.81574 ▼ 7.8157
USD to MXN rate 17.27 ▲ 17.2124
USD to SGD rate 1.36689 ▲ 1.3658
USD to ZAR rate 18.77948 ▲ 18.7647

Economic indicators of United States and South Africa

Indicator United States South Africa
Private Consumption 18,301,555
Mil. USD, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q2
4,423,387
Mil. ZAR, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Real Private Consumption 14,419,857
Mil. Ch. 2012 USD, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q2
3,094,097
Mil. 2015 ZAR, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Real GDP 20,386,467
Mil. Ch. 2012 USD, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q2
4,608,471
Mil. 2015 ZAR, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Nominal GDP 26,798,605
Mil. USD, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q2
6,812,701
Mil. ZAR, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Investment 4,615,478
Mil. USD, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q2
1,052,681
Mil. ZAR, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Consumer Price Index (CPI) 306.27
Index 1982-84=100, SA, Monthly; Aug 2023
109.6
Index Dec2021=100, NSA, Monthly; May 2023
Producer Price Index (PPI) 251.74
Index 1982=100, SA, Monthly; Jul 2023
-
Total Employment Non-Ag 156,419
Ths. #, SA, Monthly; Aug 2023
-
Unemployment Rate 3.8
%, SA, Monthly; Aug 2023
32.9
%, NSA, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Imports of Goods 258,332
Mil. USD, SA, Monthly; Jul 2023
1,963,461
Mil. ZAR, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Exports of Goods 168,350
Mil. USD, SA, Monthly; Jul 2023
1,946,443
Mil. ZAR, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Net Exports -804,717
Mil. USD, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q2
43,044
Mil. ZAR, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q1
Lending Rate 5.33
% p.a., NSA, Business Daily; 11 Sep 2023
7
% - End of period, Monthly; Jun 2017
House Price Index 645.18
Index 1980Q1=100, NSA, Quarterly; 2023 Q2
-
Consumer Confidence 98.32
Index Long term avg=100, SA, Monthly; Aug 2023
-
Personal Income 22,751,346
Mil. USD, SAAR, Quarterly; 2023 Q2
138,168
Rand, Nominal, NSA, Annual; 2015
Retail Sales 509,041
Mil. USD, CDASA, Monthly; Sep 2018
104,889
Mil. ZAR, NSA, Monthly; Apr 2023

USD to ZAR Historical Rates(table)

Date Open Highest Lowest Close
USD to ZAR (2023-09-25) 18.7844 18.7447 18.8603 18.7010
USD to ZAR (2023-09-24) 18.7439 18.7644 18.7839 18.7233
USD to ZAR (2023-09-22) 18.7574 18.9536 18.9823 18.6984
USD to ZAR (2023-09-21) 18.9412 18.8163 19.0448 18.7994
USD to ZAR (2023-09-20) 18.8461 18.9412 18.9913 18.6795
USD to ZAR (2023-09-19) 18.9306 19.0328 19.0584 18.9067
USD to ZAR (2023-09-18) 19.0025 19.0201 19.0923 18.9314
USD to ZAR (2023-09-15) 19.0038 19.0227 19.1168 18.9517
USD to ZAR (2023-09-14) 19.0176 18.8108 19.0612 18.7598
USD to ZAR (2023-09-13) 18.8008 18.9340 18.9824 18.7596
USD to ZAR (2023-09-12) 18.9110 18.9385 19.0441 18.8503
USD to ZAR (2023-09-11) 18.8711 19.1215 19.1291 18.8254
USD to ZAR (2023-09-08) 19.1225 19.1768 19.1872 19.0222
USD to ZAR (2023-09-07) 19.1748 19.2217 19.2759 19.1095
USD to ZAR (2023-09-06) 19.1943 19.2551 19.3424 19.0972
USD to ZAR (2023-09-05) 19.2032 19.0693 19.2861 19.0445
USD to ZAR (2023-09-04) 19.0618 18.8292 19.1438 18.7404
USD to ZAR (2023-09-01) 18.8361 18.8800 18.9059 18.6155
USD to ZAR (2023-08-31) 18.8706 18.6518 18.9461 18.6428
USD to ZAR (2023-08-30) 18.6791 18.5077 18.7076 18.4673
USD to ZAR (2023-08-29) 18.4692 18.6105 18.6309 18.4261
USD to ZAR (2023-08-28) 18.6015 18.5897 18.7493 18.5485
USD to ZAR (2023-08-25) 18.6183 18.7950 18.8965 18.5282

USD to ZAR Handy Conversion

1 USD = 18.772 ZAR
2 USD = 37.545 ZAR
3 USD = 56.317 ZAR
4 USD = 75.09 ZAR
5 USD = 93.862 ZAR
6 USD = 112.634 ZAR
7 USD = 131.407 ZAR
8 USD = 150.179 ZAR
9 USD = 168.952 ZAR
10 USD = 187.724 ZAR
15 USD = 281.586 ZAR
20 USD = 375.448 ZAR
25 USD = 469.31 ZAR
50 USD = 938.62 ZAR
100 USD = 1877.24 ZAR
200 USD = 3754.48 ZAR
250 USD = 4693.1 ZAR
500 USD = 9386.2 ZAR
750 USD = 14079.3 ZAR
1000 USD = 18772.4 ZAR
1500 USD = 28158.6 ZAR
2000 USD = 37544.8 ZAR
5000 USD = 93862 ZAR
10000 USD = 187724 ZAR

Comparison between United States and South Africa

Background comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. Since the end of World War II, the economy has achieved relatively steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.

South Africa is home to some of the world’s oldest human fossils, and during the modern era the region was settled by Khoisan and Bantu peoples. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (Afrikaners, called "Boers" (farmers) by the British) trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Afrikaners resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Second South African War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the Afrikaner-dominated National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races - which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule.

The first multi-racial elections in 1994 following the end of apartheid ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in decent housing, education, and health care. Jacob ZUMA became president in 2009 and was reelected in 2014, but was forced to resign in February 2018 after numerous corruption scandals and gains by opposition parties in municipal elections in 2016. His successor, Cyril RAMAPHOSA, has pledged to crack down on corruption and shore up state-owned enterprises, and is the ANC’s likely candidate for May 2019 national elections.

Geography comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
Location

North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Geographic coordinates

38 00 N, 97 00 W

29 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references

North America

Africa

Area

total: 9,833,517 sq km

land: 9,147,593 sq km

water: 685,924 sq km

note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia, no overseas territories (2010)

country comparison to the world: 4

total: 1,219,090 sq km

land: 1,214,470 sq km

water: 4,620 sq km

note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)

country comparison to the world: 26

Area - comparative

about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union

-
Land boundaries

total: 12,048 km

border countries (2): Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,155 km

note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28.5 km

total: 5,244 km

border countries (6): Botswana 1,969 km, Lesotho 1,106 km, Mozambique 496 km, Namibia 1,005 km, Eswatini 438 km, Zimbabwe 230 km

Coastline

19,924 km

2,798 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: not specified

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate

mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Terrain

vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Elevation

mean elevation: 760 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Death Valley -86 m (lowest point in North America)

highest point: Denali (Mount McKinley) 6,190 m (highest point in North America)

note: the peak of Mauna Kea (4,205 m above sea level) on the island of Hawaii rises about 10,200 m above the Pacific Ocean floor; by this measurement, it is the world's tallest mountain - higher than Mount Everest (8,850 m), which is recognized as the tallest mountain above sea level

mean elevation: 1,034 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Natural resources

coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, arable land

note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total

gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use

agricultural land: 44.5%

arable land 16.8%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 27.4%

forest: 33.3%

other: 22.2% (2011 est.)

agricultural land: 79.4%

arable land 9.9%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 69.2%

forest: 7.6%

other: 13% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

264,000 sq km (2012)

16,700 sq km (2012)

Population - distribution

large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western tier states; mountainous areas, principally the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian chain, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prairie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast - with particular emphasis on the city of Anchorage - and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu

the population concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Petoria; the eastern half of the country is more densly populated than the west

Natural hazards

tsunamis; volcanoes; earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development

volcanism: volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; both Mauna Loa (4,170 m) in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (4,392 m) in Washington have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pavlof (2,519 m) is the most active volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to air travel since the area constitutes a major flight path between North America and East Asia; St. Helens (2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; numerous other historically active volcanoes exist, mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii; they include: in Alaska: Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna, Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell, Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof; in Hawaii: Haleakala, Kilauea, Loihi; in the Northern Mariana Islands: Anatahan; and in the Pacific Northwest: Mount Baker, Mount Hood

prolonged droughts

volcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano

Environment - current issues

large emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural freshwater resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification

lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Denali (Mt. McKinley) is the highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent

South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini

People comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
Population

326,625,791 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

54,841,552

note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

Nationality

noun: American(s)

adjective: American

noun: South African(s)

adjective: South African

Ethnic groups

white 72.4%, black 12.6%, Asian 4.8%, Amerindian and Alaska native 0.9%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2%, other 6.2%, two or more races 2.9% (2010 est.)

note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean persons of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin including those of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican Republic, Spanish, and Central or South American origin living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.); an estimated 16.3% of the total US population is Hispanic as of 2010

black African 80.2%, white 8.4%, colored 8.8%, Indian/Asian 2.5%

note: colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry (2014 est.)

Languages

English 79%, Spanish 13%, other Indo-European 3.7%, Asian and Pacific island 3.4%, other 1% (2015 est.)

note: data represent the language spoken at home; the US has no official national language, but English has acquired official status in 32 of the 50 states; Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii, and 20 indigenous languages are official in Alaska

isiZulu (official) 22.7%, isiXhosa (official) 16%, Afrikaans (official) 13.5%, English (official) 9.6%, Sepedi (official) 9.1%, Setswana (official) 8%, Sesotho (official) 7.6%, Xitsonga (official) 4.5%, siSwati (official) 2.5%, Tshivenda (official) 2.4%, isiNdebele (official) 2.1%, sign language 0.5%, other 1.6% (2011 est.)

Religions

Protestant 46.5%, Roman Catholic 20.8%, Jewish 1.9%, Mormon 1.6%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 0.9%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, Buddhist 0.7%, Hindu 0.7%, other 1.8%, unaffiliated 22.8%, don't know/refused 0.6% (2014 est.)

Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.2

youth dependency ratio: 29

elderly dependency ratio: 22.1

potential support ratio: 4.5 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 52.5

youth dependency ratio: 44.8

elderly dependency ratio: 7.7

potential support ratio: 12.9 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 38.1 years

male: 36.8 years

female: 39.4 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

total: 27.1 years

male: 26.9 years

female: 27.3 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 145

Population growth rate

0.81% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

0.99% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 114

Birth rate

12.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

20.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

Death rate

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 85

9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

Net migration rate

3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 136

Population distribution

large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western tier states; mountainous areas, principally the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian chain, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prarie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast - with particular emphasis on the city of Anchorage - and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu

the population concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Petoria; the eastern half of the country is more densly populated than the west

Urbanization

urban population: 82% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population: 65.8% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

New York-Newark 18.593 million; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana 12.31 million; Chicago 8.745 million; Miami 5.817 million; Dallas-Fort Worth 5.703 million; WASHINGTON, D.C. (capital) 4.955 million (2015)

Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni) 9.399 million; Cape Town (legislative capital) 3.66 million; Durban 2.901 million; PRETORIA (capital) 2.059 million; Port Elizabeth 1.179 million; Vereeniging 1.155 million (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: NA

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.4 years (2015 est.)

-
Maternal mortality ratio

14 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 138

138 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 63

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 170

total: 31 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 34.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80 years

male: 77.7 years

female: 82.2 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

total population: 63.8 years

male: 62.4 years

female: 65.3 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 190

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 143

2.29 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 91

Contraceptive prevalence rate

74.1%

note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2011/13)

-
Health expenditures

17.1% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 1

8.8% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 44

Physicians density

2.57 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

0.82 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2013)

-
Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.4% of population

rural: 98.2% of population

total: 99.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.6% of population

rural: 1.8% of population

total: 0.8% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 81.4% of population

total: 93.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 18.6% of population

total: 6.8% of population (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 69.6% of population

rural: 60.5% of population

total: 66.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 30.4% of population

rural: 39.5% of population

total: 33.6% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

18.9% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

7.1 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

110,000 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

36.2% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 12

28.3% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 30

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.5% (2012)

country comparison to the world: 136

8.7% (2008)

country comparison to the world: 72

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 63

5.9% of GDP (2016)

country comparison to the world: 42

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2014)

total: 13 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2012)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10.4%

male: 11.4%

female: 9.3% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 127

total: 50.1%

male: 46.3%

female: 54.9% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

Demographic profile -

South Africa’s youthful population is gradually aging, as the country’s total fertility rate (TFR) has declined dramatically from about 6 children per woman in the 1960s to roughly 2.2 in 2014. This pattern is similar to fertility trends in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and sets South Africa apart from the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, where the average TFR remains higher than other regions of the world. Today, South Africa’s decreasing number of reproductive age women is having fewer children, as women increase their educational attainment, workforce participation, and use of family planning methods; delay marriage; and opt for smaller families.

As the proportion of working-age South Africans has grown relative to children and the elderly, South Africa has been unable to achieve a demographic dividend because persistent high unemployment and the prevalence of HIV/AIDs have created a larger-than-normal dependent population. HIV/AIDS was also responsible for South Africa’s average life expectancy plunging to less than 43 years in 2008; it has rebounded to 63 years as of 2017. HIV/AIDS continues to be a serious public health threat, although awareness-raising campaigns and the wider availability of anti-retroviral drugs is stabilizing the number of new cases, enabling infected individuals to live longer, healthier lives, and reducing mother-child transmissions.

Migration to South Africa began in the second half of the 17th century when traders from the Dutch East India Company settled in the Cape and started using slaves from South and southeast Asia (mainly from India but also from present-day Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia) and southeast Africa (Madagascar and Mozambique) as farm laborers and, to a lesser extent, as domestic servants. The Indian subcontinent remained the Cape Colony’s main source of slaves in the early 18th century, while slaves were increasingly obtained from southeast Africa in the latter part of the 18th century and into the 19th century under British rule.

After slavery was completely abolished in the British Empire in 1838, South Africa’s colonists turned to temporary African migrants and indentured labor through agreements with India and later China, countries that were anxious to export workers to alleviate domestic poverty and overpopulation. Of the more than 150,000 indentured Indian laborers hired to work in Natal’s sugar plantations between 1860 and 1911, most exercised the right as British subjects to remain permanently (a small number of Indian immigrants came freely as merchants). Because of growing resentment toward Indian workers, the 63,000 indentured Chinese workers who mined gold in Transvaal between 1904 and 1911 were under more restrictive contracts and generally were forced to return to their homeland.

In the late 19th century and nearly the entire 20th century, South Africa’s then British colonies’ and Dutch states’ enforced selective immigration policies that welcomed “assimilable” white Europeans as permanent residents but excluded or restricted other immigrants. Following the Union of South Africa’s passage of a law in 1913 prohibiting Asian and other non-white immigrants and its elimination of the indenture system in 1917, temporary African contract laborers from neighboring countries became the dominant source of labor in the burgeoning mining industries. Others worked in agriculture and smaller numbers in manufacturing, domestic service, transportation, and construction. Throughout the 20th century, at least 40% of South Africa’s miners were foreigners; the numbers peaked at over 80% in the late 1960s. Mozambique, Lesotho, Botswana, and Eswatini were the primary sources of miners, and Malawi and Zimbabwe were periodic suppliers.

Under apartheid, a “two gates” migration policy focused on policing and deporting illegal migrants rather than on managing migration to meet South Africa’s development needs. The exclusionary 1991 Aliens Control Act limited labor recruitment to the highly skilled as defined by the ruling white minority, while bilateral labor agreements provided exemptions that enabled the influential mining industry and, to a lesser extent, commercial farms, to hire temporary, low-paid workers from neighboring states. Illegal African migrants were often tacitly allowed to work for low pay in other sectors but were always under threat of deportation.

The abolishment of apartheid in 1994 led to the development of a new inclusive national identity and the strengthening of the country’s restrictive immigration policy. Despite South Africa’s protectionist approach to immigration, the downsizing and closing of mines, and rising unemployment, migrants from across the continent believed that the country held work opportunities. Fewer African labor migrants were issued temporary work permits and, instead, increasingly entered South Africa with visitors’ permits or came illegally, which drove growth in cross-border trade and the informal job market. A new wave of Asian immigrants has also arrived over the last two decades, many operating small retail businesses.

In the post-apartheid period, increasing numbers of highly skilled white workers emigrated, citing dissatisfaction with the political situation, crime, poor services, and a reduced quality of life. The 2002 Immigration Act and later amendments were intended to facilitate the temporary migration of skilled foreign labor to fill labor shortages, but instead the legislation continues to create regulatory obstacles. Although the education system has improved and brain drain has slowed in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, South Africa continues to face skills shortages in several key sectors, such as health care and technology.

South Africa’s stability and economic growth has acted as a magnet for refugees and asylum seekers from nearby countries, despite the prevalence of discrimination and xenophobic violence. Refugees have included an estimated 350,000 Mozambicans during its 1980s civil war and, more recently, several thousand Somalis, Congolese, and Ethiopians. Nearly all of the tens of thousands of Zimbabweans who have applied for asylum in South Africa have been categorized as economic migrants and denied refuge.

Major infectious diseases -

degree of risk: intermediate

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2016)

Literacy -

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.4%

male: 95.4%

female: 93.4% (2015 est.)

Government comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
Country name

conventional long form: United States of America

conventional short form: United States

abbreviation: US or USA

etymology: the name America is derived from that of Amerigo VESPUCCI (1454-1512) - Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer - using the Latin form of his name, Americus, feminized to America

conventional long form: Republic of South Africa

conventional short form: South Africa

former: Union of South Africa

abbreviation: RSA

etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent

Government type

constitutional federal republic

parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Washington, DC

geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W

time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

note: the 50 United States cover six time zones

name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)

geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape

Dependent areas

American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island

note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a political relationship with all four political entities: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994)

-
Independence

4 July 1776 (declared independence from Great Britain); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)

31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

Constitution

previous 1781 (Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union); latest drafted July - September 1787, submitted to the Congress of the Confederation 20 September 1787, submitted for states' ratification 28 September 1787, ratification completed by nine states 21 June 1788, effective 4 March 1789; amended many times, last in 1992 (2016)

history: several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved by Constitutional Court 4 December 1996, effective 4 February 1997

amendments: proposed by the National Assembly of Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional sections on human rights and freedoms, non-racism and non-sexism, supremacy of the constitution, suffrage, the multi-party system of democratic government, and amendment procedures requires at least 75% majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council of Provinces, and assent by the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting the Bill of Rights, and those related to provincial boundaries, powers, and authorities requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council, and assent by the president; amended many times, last in 2013 (2017)

Legal system

common law system based on English common law at the federal level; state legal systems based on common law except Louisiana, which is based on Napoleonic civil code; judicial review of legislative acts

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law

International law organization participation

withdrew acceptance of compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in 2005; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no, but the US government acknowledges such situtations exist; US citizens are not encouraged to seek dual citizenship since it limits protection by the US

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa

dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission of the government

residency requirement for naturalization: 1 year

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, approved by the Senate

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by the Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 10 November 2020)

election results: Donald J. TRUMP elected president; electoral vote - Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 304, Hillary D. CLINTON (Democratic Party) 227, other 7; percent of direct popular vote - Hillary D. CLINTON 48.2%, Donald J. TRUMP 46.1%, other 5.7%

chief of state: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 15 February 2018); Deputy President David MABUZA (26 February 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Jacob ZUMA resigned the presidency on 14 February 2018

head of government: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 15 February 2018); deputy president David MABUZA (26 February 2018); note - Jacob ZUMA resigned the presidency on 14 February 2018

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 February 2018 to elect Cyril RAMAPHOSA as acting president to replace ZUMA for the remainder of his term (next to be held in May 2019)

election results: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats; 2 members directly elected in each of the 50 state constituencies by simple majority vote except in Georgia and Louisiana which require an absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote except in Georgia which requires an absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 2-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 6 November 2018); House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 6 November 2018)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 24, Democratic Party 10; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 241, Democratic Party 194,

note: in addition to the regular members of the House of Representatives there are 6 non-voting delegates elected from the District of Columbia and the US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands; these are single seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term (except for the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico who serves a 4-year term); the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegates last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 6 November 2018)

description: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council of Provinces (90 seats; 10-member delegations appointed by each of the 9 provincial legislatures to serve 5-year terms; note - this council has special powers to protect regional interests, including safeguarding cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities) and the National Assembly (400 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

elections: National Council of Provinces and National Assembly - last held on 7 May 2014 (next to be held in 2019)

election results: National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANC 60, DA 20, EFF 7, IFP 1, NFP 1, UDM 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 62.2%, DA 22.2%, EFF 6.4%, IFP 2.4%, NFP 1.6%, UDM 1.0%, other 4.2%; seats by party - ANC 249, DA 89, EFF 25, IFP 10, NFP 6, UDM 4, other 17

Judicial branch

highest court(s): US Supreme Court (consists of 9 justices - the chief justice and 8 associate justices)

judge selection and term of office: president nominates and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Supreme Court justices; justices appointed for life

subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (includes the US Court of Appeal for the Federal District and 12 regional appeals courts); 94 federal district courts in 50 states and territories

note: the US court system consists of the federal court system and the state court systems; although each court system is responsible for hearing certain types of cases, neither is completely independent of the other, and the systems often interact

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeals (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 21 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Appeals president and vice president appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), a 23-member body chaired by the chief justice and includes other judges and judicial executives, members of parliament, practicing lawyers and advocates, a teacher of law, and several members designated by the national president; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service by an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the JSC and with heads of the National Assembly; other Constitutional Court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the chief justice and leaders of the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 12-year non-renewable terms or until age 70

subordinate courts: High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Tom PEREZ]

Green Party [collective leadership]

Libertarian Party [Nicholas SARWARK]

Republican Party [Ronna Romney MCDANIEL]

African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE]

African Independent Congress or AIC [Mandla GALO]

African National Congress or ANC [Cyril RAMAPHOSA]

African People's Convention or APC [Themba GODI]

Agang SA [Mike TSHISHONGA]

Congress of the People or COPE [Mosiuoa LEKOTA]

Democratic Alliance or DA [Mmusi MAIMANE]

Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF [Julius Sello MALEMA]

Freedom Front Plus or FF+ [Pieter GROENEWALD]

Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI]

National Freedom Party or NFP [Zanele kaMAGWAZA-MSIBI]

Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania or PAC [Luthanado MBINDA]

United Christian Democratic Party or UCDP [Isaac Sipho MFUNDISI]

United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic groups; political action committees or PACs; health groups; education groups; civic groups; youth groups; transportation groups; agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies

Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Sdumo DLAMINI]

South African Communist Party or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE]

South African National Civic Organization or SANCO [Richard MDAKANE]

note: COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the African National Congress

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, NSG, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Flag description

13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory

note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes; the flag colors do not have any official symbolism, but the Y stands for the "convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green are found on the flag of the African National Congress, while red, white, and blue are the colors in the flags of the Netherlands and the UK, whose settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era

note: the South African flag is one of only two national flags to display six colors as part of its primary design, the other is South Sudan's

National symbol(s)

bald eagle; national colors: red, white, blue

springbok (antelope), king protea flower; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white

National anthem

name: "The Star-Spangled Banner"

lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

note: adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, after witnessing the successful American defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore following British naval bombardment, Francis Scott KEY wrote the lyrics to what would become the national anthem; the lyrics were set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song"; only the first verse is sung

name: "National Anthem of South Africa"

lyrics/music: Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers

note: adopted 1994; a combination of "N'kosi Sikelel' iAfrica" (God Bless Africa) and "Die Stem van Suid Afrika" (The Call of South Africa), which were respectively the anthems of the non-white and white communities under apartheid; official lyrics contain a mixture of Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English (i.e., the five most widely spoken of South Africa's 11 official languages); music incorporates the melody used in the Tanzanian and Zambian anthems

Diplomatic representation in the US -

chief of mission: Ambassador Mninwa Johannes MAHLANGU (since 23 February 2015)

chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 [1] (202) 232-4400

FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US -

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jessica "Jessye" LAPENN (since 16 December 2016)

embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria

mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001

telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000

FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299

consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Economy comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
Economy - overview

The US has the most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $59,500. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, pharmaceuticals, and medical, aerospace, and military equipment; however, their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. Based on a comparison of GDP measured at purchasing power parity conversion rates, the US economy in 2014, having stood as the largest in the world for more than a century, slipped into second place behind China, which has more than tripled the US growth rate for each year of the past four decades.

In the US, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, businesses face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets.

Long-term problems for the US include stagnation of wages for lower-income families, inadequate investment in deteriorating infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, energy shortages, and sizable current account and budget deficits.

The onrush of technology has been a driving factor in the gradual development of a "two-tier" labor market in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. But the globalization of trade, and especially the rise of low-wage producers such as China, has put additional downward pressure on wages and upward pressure on the return to capital. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. Since 1996, dividends and capital gains have grown faster than wages or any other category of after-tax income.

Imported oil accounts for more than 50% of US consumption and oil has a major impact on the overall health of the economy. Crude oil prices doubled between 2001 and 2006, the year home prices peaked; higher gasoline prices ate into consumers' budgets and many individuals fell behind in their mortgage payments. Oil prices climbed another 50% between 2006 and 2008, and bank foreclosures more than doubled in the same period. Besides dampening the housing market, soaring oil prices caused a drop in the value of the dollar and a deterioration in the US merchandise trade deficit, which peaked at $840 billion in 2008. Because the US economy is energy-intensive, falling oil prices since 2013 have alleviated many of the problems the earlier increases had created.

The sub-prime mortgage crisis, falling home prices, investment bank failures, tight credit, and the global economic downturn pushed the US into a recession by mid-2008. GDP contracted until the third quarter of 2009, the deepest and longest downturn since the Great Depression. To help stabilize financial markets, the US Congress established a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in October 2008. The government used some of these funds to purchase equity in US banks and industrial corporations, much of which had been returned to the government by early 2011. In January 2009, Congress passed and former President Barack OBAMA signed a bill providing an additional $787 billion fiscal stimulus to be used over 10 years - two-thirds on additional spending and one-third on tax cuts - to create jobs and to help the economy recover. In 2010 and 2011, the federal budget deficit reached nearly 9% of GDP. In 2012, the Federal Government reduced the growth of spending and the deficit shrank to 7.6% of GDP. US revenues from taxes and other sources are lower, as a percentage of GDP, than those of most other countries.

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan required major shifts in national resources from civilian to military purposes and contributed to the growth of the budget deficit and public debt. Through FY 2018, the direct costs of the wars will have totaled more than $1.9 trillion, according to US Government figures.

In March 2010, former President OBAMA signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), a health insurance reform that was designed to extend coverage to an additional 32 million Americans by 2016, through private health insurance for the general population and Medicaid for the impoverished. Total spending on healthcare - public plus private - rose from 9.0% of GDP in 1980 to 17.9% in 2010.

In July 2010, the former president signed the DODD-FRANK Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a law designed to promote financial stability by protecting consumers from financial abuses, ending taxpayer bailouts of financial firms, dealing with troubled banks that are "too big to fail," and improving accountability and transparency in the financial system - in particular, by requiring certain financial derivatives to be traded in markets that are subject to government regulation and oversight.

In December 2012, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) announced plans to purchase $85 billion per month of mortgage-backed and Treasury securities in an effort to hold down long-term interest rates, and to keep short-term rates near zero until unemployment dropped below 6.5% or inflation rose above 2.5%. The Fed ended its purchases during the summer of 2014, after the unemployment rate dropped to 6.2%, inflation stood at 1.7%, and public debt fell below 74% of GDP. In December 2015, the Fed raised its target for the benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25%, the first increase since the recession began. With continued low growth, the Fed opted to raise rates several times since then, and in December 2017, the target rate stood at 1.5%.

In December 2017, Congress passed and President Donald TRUMP signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which, among its various provisions, reduces the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%; lowers the individual tax rate for those with the highest incomes from 39.6% to 37%, and by lesser percentages for those at lower income levels; changes many deductions and credits used to calculate taxable income; and eliminates in 2019 the penalty imposed on taxpayers who do not obtain the minimum amount of health insurance required under the ACA. The new taxes took effect on 1 January 2018; the tax cut for corporations are permanent, but those for individuals are scheduled to expire after 2025. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) under the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the new law will reduce tax revenues and increase the federal deficit by about $1.45 trillion over the 2018-2027 period. This amount would decline if economic growth were to exceed the JCT’s estimate.

South Africa is a middle-income emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; and a stock exchange that is Africa’s largest and among the top 20 in the world.

Economic growth has decelerated in recent years, slowing to an estimated 0.7% in 2017. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality - among the highest in the world - remain a challenge. Official unemployment is roughly 27% of the workforce, and runs significantly higher among black youth. Even though the country's modern infrastructure supports a relatively efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region, unstable electricity supplies retard growth. Eskom, the state-run power company, is building three new power stations and is installing new power demand management programs to improve power grid reliability but has been plagued with accusations of mismanagement and corruption and faces an increasingly high debt burden.

South Africa's economic policy has focused on controlling inflation while empowering a broader economic base; however, the country faces structural constraints that also limit economic growth, such as skills shortages, declining global competitiveness, and frequent work stoppages due to strike action. The government faces growing pressure from urban constituencies to improve the delivery of basic services to low-income areas, to increase job growth, and to provide university level-education at affordable prices. Political infighting among South Africa’s ruling party and the volatility of the rand risks economic growth. International investors are concerned about the country’s long-term economic stability; in late 2016, most major international credit ratings agencies downgraded South Africa’s international debt to junk bond status.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.36 trillion (2017 est.)

$18.95 trillion (2016 est.)

$18.67 trillion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 3

$757.3 billion (2017 est.)

$752.1 billion (2016 est.)

$750 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 31

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.36 trillion (2017 est.)

$344.1 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2017 est.)

1.5% (2016 est.)

2.9% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

0.7% (2017 est.)

0.3% (2016 est.)

1.3% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 193

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$59,500 (2017 est.)

$58,600 (2016 est.)

$58,200 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 20

$13,400 (2017 est.)

$13,500 (2016 est.)

$13,700 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 115

Gross national saving

17.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

18% of GDP (2016 est.)

19.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

16.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

16.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

16.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 116

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 69.1%

government consumption: 17.2%

investment in fixed capital: 16.3%

investment in inventories: 0.3%

exports of goods and services: 12.2%

imports of goods and services: -15.1% (2017 est.)

household consumption: 59.8%

government consumption: 20.7%

investment in fixed capital: 20%

investment in inventories: -0.4%

exports of goods and services: 26.9%

imports of goods and services: -27% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.9%

industry: 18.9%

services: 80.2%

(2017 est.)

agriculture: 2.8%

industry: 29.7%

services: 67.5% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products

corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

Industries

highly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second-largest industrial output in the world; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

0.5% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 184

Labor force

160.4 million

note: includes unemployed (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

22.19 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

Labor force - by occupation

farming, forestry, and fishing: 0.7%

manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts: 20.3%

managerial, professional, and technical: 37.3%

sales and office: 24.2%

other services: 17.6%

note: figures exclude the unemployed

(2009 est.)

agriculture: 4.6%

industry: 23.5%

services: 71.9% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.4% (2017 est.)

4.9% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

27.6% (2017 est.)

26.7% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 199

Population below poverty line

15.1% (2010 est.)

16.6% (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2%

highest 10%: 30% (2007 est.)

lowest 10%: 1.2%

highest 10%: 51.3% (2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45 (2007 est.)

40.8 (1997 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

62.5 (2013 est.)

63.4 (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

Budget

revenues: $3.336 trillion

expenditures: $3.991 trillion

note: for the US, revenues exclude social contributions of approximately $1.0 trillion; expenditures exclude social benefits of approximately $2.3 trillion (2017 est.)

revenues: $92.38 billion

expenditures: $103.3 billion (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.2% of GDP

note: excludes contributions for social security and other programs; if social contributions were added, taxes and other revenues would amount to approximately 22% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 176

26.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 104

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 128

-3.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 122

Public debt

77.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

76.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: data cover only what the United States Treasury denotes as "Debt Held by the Public," which includes all debt instruments issued by the Treasury that are owned by non-US Government entities; the data include Treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by individual US states, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of Treasury borrowings from surpluses in the trusts for Federal Social Security, Federal Employees, Hospital and Supplemental Medical Insurance (Medicare), Disability and Unemployment, and several other smaller trusts; if data for intra-government debt were added, "gross debt" would increase by about one-third of GDP

country comparison to the world: 43

50.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 103

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2017 est.)

1.3% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 97

5.4% (2017 est.)

6.3% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 175

Central bank discount rate

0.5% (31 December 2010 est.)

0.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

5.75% (31 December 2014 est.)

7% (31 December 2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.3% (31 December 2017 est.)

3.51% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

10.4% (31 December 2017 est.)

10.46% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

Stock of narrow money

$3.627 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.25 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$116.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$117.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 35

Stock of broad money

$14 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$12.84 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

$183.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$189.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

Stock of domestic credit

$21.59 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$20.24 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

$237.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$244.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

Market value of publicly traded shares

$25.07 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$26.33 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$24.03 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

$735.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$933.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$942.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 16

Current account balance

$-462 billion (2017 est.)

$-451.7 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 201

$-9.81 billion (2017 est.)

$-9.624 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 184

Exports

$1.576 trillion (2017 est.)

$1.456 trillion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

$78.25 billion (2017 est.)

$75.16 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

Exports - commodities

agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2008 est.)

gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment

Exports - partners

Canada 18.3%, Mexico 15.9%, China 8%, Japan 4.4% (2016)

China 9.2%, Germany 7.5%, US 7.4%, Botswana 5%, Namibia 4.8%, Japan 4.6%, India 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2016)

Imports

$2.352 trillion (2017 est.)

$2.208 trillion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

$80.22 billion (2017 est.)

$74.17 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

Imports - commodities

agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2008 est.)

machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 21.1%, Mexico 13.4%, Canada 12.7%, Japan 6%, Germany 5.2% (2016)

China 18.1%, Germany 11.8%, US 6.7%, India 4.2% (2016)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$117.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$117.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

$48.18 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$47.23 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

Debt - external

$17.91 trillion (31 March 2016 est.)

$17.85 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)

note: approximately 4/5ths of US external debt is denominated in US dollars; foreign lenders have been willing to hold US dollar denominated debt instruments because they view the dollar as the world's reserve currency

country comparison to the world: 1

$144.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$144.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$4.084 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.614 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

$139.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$136.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$5.644 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.352 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

$176.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$172.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

Exchange rates

British pounds per US dollar: 0.7836 (2017 est.), 0.738 (2016 est.), 0.738 (2015 est.), 0.607 (2014 est), 0.6391 (2013 est.)

Canadian dollars per US dollar: 1, 1.308 (2017 est.), 1.3256 (2016 est.), 1.3256 (2015 est.), 1.2788 (2014 est.), 1.0298 (2013 est.)

Chinese yuan per US dollar: 1, 6.7588 (2017 est.), 6.6445 (2016 est.), 6.2275 (2015 est.), 6.1434 (2014 est.), 6.1958 (2013 est.)

euros per US dollar: 0.885 (2017 est.), 0.903 (2016 est.), 0.9214(2015 est.), 0.885 (2014 est.), 0.7634 (2013 est.)

Japanese yen per US dollar: 111.10 (2017 est.), 108.76 (2016 est.), 108.76 (2015 est.), 121.02 (2014 est.), 97.44 (2013 est.)

rand (ZAR) per US dollar -

13.67 (2017 est.)

14.69 (2016 est.)

14.69 (2015 est.)

12.76 (2014 est.)

10.85 (2013 est.)

Energy comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

population without electricity: 7,700,000

electrification - total population: 85%

electrification - urban areas: 90%

electrification - rural areas: 77% (2013)

Electricity - production

4.088 trillion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

229.2 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity - consumption

3.911 trillion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

207.7 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity - exports

9.695 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

16.55 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 12

Electricity - imports

80.66 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

10.56 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.074 billion kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

47.28 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

Electricity - from fossil fuels

70.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 103

86.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

9.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

3.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

7.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 124

1.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - from other renewable sources

10.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

7.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

Crude oil - production

8.853 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

2,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

Crude oil - exports

590,900 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 186

Crude oil - imports

7.85 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

434,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

Crude oil - proved reserves

36.52 billion bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 11

15 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 88

Refined petroleum products - production

20.08 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

431,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19.69 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

660,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

Refined petroleum products - exports

4.67 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

78,110 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

Refined petroleum products - imports

2.205 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

164,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

Natural gas - production

766.2 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

1.1 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 66

Natural gas - consumption

773.2 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

8.66 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - exports

50.52 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - imports

76.96 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

3.8 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - proved reserves

8.714 trillion cu m (1 January 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.402 billion Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

482 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

Communications comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 121.53 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

total subscriptions: 4,522,850

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 395.881 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

total: 82,412,880

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

Telephone system

general assessment: a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system

domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country

international: country code - 1; multiple ocean cable systems provide international connectivity; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2016)

general assessment: the system is the best-developed and most modern in Africa

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 145 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria

international: country code - 27; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiber-optic submarine cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia; the EASSy fiber-optic cable system connects with Europe and North America; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) (2016)

Broadcast media

4 major terrestrial TV networks with affiliate stations throughout the country, plus cable and satellite networks, independent stations, and a limited public broadcasting sector that is largely supported by private grants; overall, thousands of TV stations broadcasting; multiple national radio networks with many affiliate stations; while most stations are commercial, National Public Radio (NPR) has a network of some 600 member stations; satellite radio available; overall, nearly 15,000 radio stations operating (2008)

the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 4 TV stations, 3 are free-to-air and 1 is pay TV; e.tv, a private station, is accessible to more than half the population; multiple subscription TV services provide a mix of local and international channels; well-developed mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; the SABC radio network, state-owned and controlled but nominally independent, operates 18 stations, one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; more than 100 community-based stations extend coverage to rural areas (2007)

Internet country code

.us

.za

Internet users

total: 246,809,221

percent of population: 76.2% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

total: 29,322,380

percent of population: 54.0% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

Transportation comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 92

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6,817

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 798.23 million

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 37.219 billion mt-km (2015)

number of registered air carriers: 23

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 216

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,188,887

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 885,277,991 mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

N (2016)

ZS (2016)

Airports

13,513 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 1

566 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 11

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5,054

over 3,047 m: 189

2,438 to 3,047 m: 235

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,478

914 to 1,523 m: 2,249

under 914 m: 903 (2013)

total: 144

over 3,047 m: 11

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 52

914 to 1,523 m: 65

under 914 m: 9 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 8,459

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 140

914 to 1,523 m: 1,552

under 914 m: 6,760 (2013)

total: 422

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 31

914 to 1,523 m: 258

under 914 m: 132 (2013)

Heliports

5,287 (2013)

1 (2013)

Pipelines

natural gas 1,984,321 km; petroleum products 240,711 km (2013)

condensate 94 km; gas 1,293 km; oil 992 km; refined products 1,460 km (2013)

Railways

total: 293,564.2 km

standard gauge: 293,564.2 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

country comparison to the world: 1

total: 20,986 km

standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge (80 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 19,756 km 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified)

other: 1,150 km (passenger rail, gauge unspecified, 1,115.5 km electrified) (2014)

country comparison to the world: 13

Roadways

total: 6,586,610 km

paved: 4,304,715 km (includes 76,334 km of expressways)

unpaved: 2,281,895 km (2012)

country comparison to the world: 1

total: 747,014 km

paved: 158,952 km

unpaved: 588,062 km (2014)

country comparison to the world: 10

Waterways

41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce; Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, is shared with Canada) (2012)

country comparison to the world: 5

-
Merchant marine

total: 3,611

by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 61, general cargo 114, oil tanker 66, other 3,365 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 5

total: 82

by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 1, oil tanker 5, other 74 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 96

Ports and terminals

cargo ports: Baton Rouge, Corpus Christi, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Plaquemines (LA), Tampa, Texas City

container port(s) (TEUs): Hampton Roads (2,549,000), Houston (2,131,000), Long Beach (7,192,000), Los Angeles (8,160,000), New York/New Jersey (6,372,000), Oakland (2,278,000), Savannah (3,737,000), Seattle (3,531,000) (2015)

cruise departure ports (passengers): Miami (2,032,000), Port Everglades (1,277,000), Port Canaveral (1,189,000), Seattle (430,000), Long Beach (415,000) (2009)

oil terminal(s): LOOP terminal, Haymark terminal

LNG terminal(s) (import): Cove Point (MD), Elba Island (GA), Everett (MA), Freeport (TX), Golden Pass (TX), Hackberry (LA), Lake Charles (LA), Neptune (offshore), Northeast Gateway (offshore), Pascagoula (MS), Sabine Pass (TX)

LNG terminal(s) (export): Kenai (AK)

major seaport(s): Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay

container port(s) (TEUs): Durban (2,770,000) (2015)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Mossel Bay

Military comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
Military expenditures

3.29% of GDP (2016)

3.3% of GDP (2015)

3.51% of GDP (2014)

3.83% of GDP (2013)

4.24% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 25

1.07% of GDP (2016)

1.09% of GDP (2015)

1.11% of GDP (2014)

1.12% of GDP (2013)

1.13% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 109

Military branches

United States Armed Forces: US Army, US Navy (includes Marine Corps), US Air Force, US Coast Guard; note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy (2017)

South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service; no conscription; maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); 8-year service obligation, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines); all military occupations and positions open to women (2016)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2012)

Transnational comparison between [United States] and [South Africa]

United States South Africa
Disputes - international

the US has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution

South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 53,716 refugees during FY2017 including: 9,377 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 6,886 (Iraq); 6,557 (Syria); 6,130 (Somalia); 5,078 (Burma); 3,550 (Bhutan); 2,577 (Iran)

note: more than 46,000 Venezuelans have claimed asylum since 2014 because of the economic and political crisis (2017)

refugees (country of origin): 28,695 (Somalia); 17,776 (Ethiopia); 5,394 (Republic of the Congo) (2016); 66,528 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2018)

Illicit drugs

world's largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and Mexican heroin and marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine; minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center

transshipment center for heroin, hashish, and cocaine, as well as a major cultivator of marijuana in its own right; cocaine and heroin consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries, but increasingly producing its own synthetic drugs for domestic consumption; attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region and the size of the South African economy

USD to ZAR Historical Rates

year by month
USD to ZAR in 2023 USD to ZAR in 2023-09  USD to ZAR in 2023-08  USD to ZAR in 2023-07  USD to ZAR in 2023-06  USD to ZAR in 2023-05  USD to ZAR in 2023-04  USD to ZAR in 2023-03  USD to ZAR in 2023-02  USD to ZAR in 2023-01 
USD to ZAR in 2022 USD to ZAR in 2022-12  USD to ZAR in 2022-11  USD to ZAR in 2022-10  USD to ZAR in 2022-09  USD to ZAR in 2022-08  USD to ZAR in 2022-07  USD to ZAR in 2022-06  USD to ZAR in 2022-05  USD to ZAR in 2022-04  USD to ZAR in 2022-03  USD to ZAR in 2022-02  USD to ZAR in 2022-01 
USD to ZAR in 2021 USD to ZAR in 2021-12  USD to ZAR in 2021-11  USD to ZAR in 2021-10  USD to ZAR in 2021-09  USD to ZAR in 2021-08  USD to ZAR in 2021-07  USD to ZAR in 2021-06  USD to ZAR in 2021-05  USD to ZAR in 2021-04  USD to ZAR in 2021-03  USD to ZAR in 2021-02  USD to ZAR in 2021-01 
USD to ZAR in 2020 USD to ZAR in 2020-12  USD to ZAR in 2020-11  USD to ZAR in 2020-10  USD to ZAR in 2020-09  USD to ZAR in 2020-08  USD to ZAR in 2020-07  USD to ZAR in 2020-06  USD to ZAR in 2020-05  USD to ZAR in 2020-04  USD to ZAR in 2020-03  USD to ZAR in 2020-02  USD to ZAR in 2020-01 
USD to ZAR in 2019 USD to ZAR in 2019-12  USD to ZAR in 2019-11  USD to ZAR in 2019-10  USD to ZAR in 2019-09  USD to ZAR in 2019-08  USD to ZAR in 2019-07  USD to ZAR in 2019-06  USD to ZAR in 2019-05  USD to ZAR in 2019-04  USD to ZAR in 2019-03  USD to ZAR in 2019-02  USD to ZAR in 2019-01 
USD to ZAR in 2018 USD to ZAR in 2018-12  USD to ZAR in 2018-11  USD to ZAR in 2018-10  USD to ZAR in 2018-09  USD to ZAR in 2018-08  USD to ZAR in 2018-07  USD to ZAR in 2018-06  USD to ZAR in 2018-05  USD to ZAR in 2018-04  USD to ZAR in 2018-03  USD to ZAR in 2018-02  USD to ZAR in 2018-01 
USD to ZAR in 2017 USD to ZAR in 2017-12  USD to ZAR in 2017-11  USD to ZAR in 2017-10  USD to ZAR in 2017-09  USD to ZAR in 2017-08  USD to ZAR in 2017-07  USD to ZAR in 2017-06  USD to ZAR in 2017-05  USD to ZAR in 2017-04  USD to ZAR in 2017-03  USD to ZAR in 2017-02  USD to ZAR in 2017-01 
USD to ZAR in 2016 USD to ZAR in 2016-12  USD to ZAR in 2016-11  USD to ZAR in 2016-10  USD to ZAR in 2016-09  USD to ZAR in 2016-08  USD to ZAR in 2016-07  USD to ZAR in 2016-06  USD to ZAR in 2016-05  USD to ZAR in 2016-04  USD to ZAR in 2016-03  USD to ZAR in 2016-02  USD to ZAR in 2016-01 
USD to ZAR in 2015 USD to ZAR in 2015-12  USD to ZAR in 2015-11  USD to ZAR in 2015-10  USD to ZAR in 2015-09  USD to ZAR in 2015-08  USD to ZAR in 2015-07  USD to ZAR in 2015-06  USD to ZAR in 2015-05  USD to ZAR in 2015-04  USD to ZAR in 2015-03  USD to ZAR in 2015-02  USD to ZAR in 2015-01 
USD to ZAR in 2014 USD to ZAR in 2014-12  USD to ZAR in 2014-11  USD to ZAR in 2014-10  USD to ZAR in 2014-09  USD to ZAR in 2014-08  USD to ZAR in 2014-07  USD to ZAR in 2014-06  USD to ZAR in 2014-05  USD to ZAR in 2014-04  USD to ZAR in 2014-03  USD to ZAR in 2014-02  USD to ZAR in 2014-01 
USD to ZAR in 2013 USD to ZAR in 2013-12  USD to ZAR in 2013-11  USD to ZAR in 2013-10  USD to ZAR in 2013-09  USD to ZAR in 2013-08  USD to ZAR in 2013-07  USD to ZAR in 2013-06  USD to ZAR in 2013-05  USD to ZAR in 2013-04  USD to ZAR in 2013-03  USD to ZAR in 2013-02  USD to ZAR in 2013-01 
USD to ZAR in 2012 USD to ZAR in 2012-12  USD to ZAR in 2012-11  USD to ZAR in 2012-10  USD to ZAR in 2012-09  USD to ZAR in 2012-08  USD to ZAR in 2012-07  USD to ZAR in 2012-06  USD to ZAR in 2012-05  USD to ZAR in 2012-04  USD to ZAR in 2012-03  USD to ZAR in 2012-02  USD to ZAR in 2012-01 
USD to ZAR in 2011 USD to ZAR in 2011-12  USD to ZAR in 2011-11  USD to ZAR in 2011-10  USD to ZAR in 2011-09  USD to ZAR in 2011-08  USD to ZAR in 2011-07  USD to ZAR in 2011-06  USD to ZAR in 2011-05  USD to ZAR in 2011-04  USD to ZAR in 2011-03  USD to ZAR in 2011-02  USD to ZAR in 2011-01 
USD to ZAR in 2010 USD to ZAR in 2010-12  USD to ZAR in 2010-11  USD to ZAR in 2010-10  USD to ZAR in 2010-09  USD to ZAR in 2010-08  USD to ZAR in 2010-07  USD to ZAR in 2010-06  USD to ZAR in 2010-05  USD to ZAR in 2010-04  USD to ZAR in 2010-03  USD to ZAR in 2010-02  USD to ZAR in 2010-01 
USD to ZAR in 2009 USD to ZAR in 2009-12  USD to ZAR in 2009-11  USD to ZAR in 2009-10  USD to ZAR in 2009-09  USD to ZAR in 2009-08  USD to ZAR in 2009-07  USD to ZAR in 2009-06  USD to ZAR in 2009-05  USD to ZAR in 2009-04  USD to ZAR in 2009-03  USD to ZAR in 2009-02  USD to ZAR in 2009-01 
USD to ZAR in 2008 USD to ZAR in 2008-12  USD to ZAR in 2008-11  USD to ZAR in 2008-10  USD to ZAR in 2008-09  USD to ZAR in 2008-08  USD to ZAR in 2008-07  USD to ZAR in 2008-06  USD to ZAR in 2008-05  USD to ZAR in 2008-04  USD to ZAR in 2008-03  USD to ZAR in 2008-02  USD to ZAR in 2008-01 
USD to ZAR in 2007 USD to ZAR in 2007-12  USD to ZAR in 2007-11  USD to ZAR in 2007-10  USD to ZAR in 2007-09  USD to ZAR in 2007-08  USD to ZAR in 2007-07  USD to ZAR in 2007-06  USD to ZAR in 2007-05  USD to ZAR in 2007-04  USD to ZAR in 2007-03  USD to ZAR in 2007-02  USD to ZAR in 2007-01 
USD to ZAR in 2006 USD to ZAR in 2006-12  USD to ZAR in 2006-11  USD to ZAR in 2006-10  USD to ZAR in 2006-09  USD to ZAR in 2006-08  USD to ZAR in 2006-07  USD to ZAR in 2006-06  USD to ZAR in 2006-05  USD to ZAR in 2006-04  USD to ZAR in 2006-03  USD to ZAR in 2006-02  USD to ZAR in 2006-01 
USD to ZAR in 2005 USD to ZAR in 2005-12  USD to ZAR in 2005-11  USD to ZAR in 2005-10  USD to ZAR in 2005-09  USD to ZAR in 2005-08  USD to ZAR in 2005-07  USD to ZAR in 2005-06  USD to ZAR in 2005-05  USD to ZAR in 2005-04  USD to ZAR in 2005-03  USD to ZAR in 2005-02  USD to ZAR in 2005-01 
USD to ZAR in 2004 USD to ZAR in 2004-12  USD to ZAR in 2004-11  USD to ZAR in 2004-10  USD to ZAR in 2004-09  USD to ZAR in 2004-08  USD to ZAR in 2004-07  USD to ZAR in 2004-06  USD to ZAR in 2004-05  USD to ZAR in 2004-04  USD to ZAR in 2004-03  USD to ZAR in 2004-02  USD to ZAR in 2004-01 
USD to ZAR in 2003 USD to ZAR in 2003-12  USD to ZAR in 2003-11  USD to ZAR in 2003-10  USD to ZAR in 2003-09  USD to ZAR in 2003-08  USD to ZAR in 2003-07  USD to ZAR in 2003-06  USD to ZAR in 2003-05  USD to ZAR in 2003-04  USD to ZAR in 2003-03  USD to ZAR in 2003-02  USD to ZAR in 2003-01 
USD to ZAR in 2002 USD to ZAR in 2002-12  USD to ZAR in 2002-11  USD to ZAR in 2002-10  USD to ZAR in 2002-09  USD to ZAR in 2002-08  USD to ZAR in 2002-07  USD to ZAR in 2002-06  USD to ZAR in 2002-05  USD to ZAR in 2002-04  USD to ZAR in 2002-03  USD to ZAR in 2002-02  USD to ZAR in 2002-01 
USD to ZAR in 2001 USD to ZAR in 2001-12  USD to ZAR in 2001-11  USD to ZAR in 2001-10  USD to ZAR in 2001-09  USD to ZAR in 2001-08  USD to ZAR in 2001-07  USD to ZAR in 2001-06  USD to ZAR in 2001-05  USD to ZAR in 2001-04  USD to ZAR in 2001-03  USD to ZAR in 2001-02  USD to ZAR in 2001-01 
USD to ZAR in 2000 USD to ZAR in 2000-12  USD to ZAR in 2000-11  USD to ZAR in 2000-10  USD to ZAR in 2000-09  USD to ZAR in 2000-08  USD to ZAR in 2000-07  USD to ZAR in 2000-06  USD to ZAR in 2000-05  USD to ZAR in 2000-04  USD to ZAR in 2000-03  USD to ZAR in 2000-02  USD to ZAR in 2000-01 

All USD Exchange Rates Now

Exchange Rate Exchange Rate Exchange Rate
USD to AED rate 3.67299 ▲ USD to ALL rate 99.90754 ▲ USD to ANG rate 1.79898 ▲
USD to ARS rate 350.03818 ▲ USD to AUD rate 1.55763 ▲ USD to AWG rate 1.7975 ▲
USD to BBD rate 2 USD to BDT rate 109.54686 ▲ USD to BGN rate 1.83732 ▲
USD to BHD rate 0.37701 ▲ USD to BIF rate 2828.8289 ▲ USD to BMD rate 1
USD to BND rate 1.36331 ▲ USD to BOB rate 6.89736 ▲ USD to BRL rate 4.93537 ▲
USD to BSD rate 1 USD to BTN rate 82.7595 ▲ USD to BZD rate 2.01201 ▲
USD to CAD rate 1.34762 ▲ USD to CHF rate 0.90996 ▲ USD to CLP rate 892.85714 ▲
USD to CNY rate 7.3119 ▲ USD to COP rate 3953.36131 ▲ USD to CRC rate 534.96769 ▲
USD to CZK rate 22.9425 ▲ USD to DKK rate 7.01162 ▲ USD to DOP rate 56.65026 ▲
USD to DZD rate 137.38395 ▲ USD to EGP rate 30.89205 ▲ USD to ETB rate 55.20558 ▲
USD to EUR rate 0.94035 ▲ USD to FJD rate 2.26665 ▲ USD to GBP rate 0.8183 ▲
USD to GMD rate 64.5 ▲ USD to GNF rate 8571.84991 ▼ USD to GTQ rate 7.85561 ▲
USD to HKD rate 7.81574 ▼ USD to HNL rate 24.60183 ▼ USD to HRK rate 7.08707 ▲
USD to HTG rate 134.75491 ▲ USD to HUF rate 366.64408 ▲ USD to IDR rate 15404.69011 ▲
USD to ILS rate 3.80653 ▼ USD to INR rate 83.12939 ▲ USD to IQD rate 1307.20551 ▲
USD to IRR rate 42240 ▲ USD to ISK rate 136.63 ▲ USD to JMD rate 154.56742 ▲
USD to JOD rate 0.7094 ▲ USD to JPY rate 148.59567 ▲ USD to KES rate 147.65 ▲
USD to KMF rate 461.54987 ▲ USD to KRW rate 1338.75191 ▲ USD to KWD rate 0.30908 ▲
USD to KYD rate 0.83183 ▲ USD to KZT rate 474.3311 ▲ USD to LBP rate 15002.69595 ▲
USD to LKR rate 323.67264 ▲ USD to LSL rate 18.78261 ▼ USD to MAD rate 10.29977 ▲
USD to MDL rate 18.20507 ▲ USD to MKD rate 57.88149 ▲ USD to MNT rate 3450 ▲
USD to MOP rate 8.04069 ▲ USD to MUR rate 44.65453 ▲ USD to MVR rate 15.4 ▲
USD to MWK rate 1081.28678 ▼ USD to MXN rate 17.27 ▲ USD to MYR rate 4.685 ▼
USD to NAD rate 18.89 ▲ USD to NGN rate 783.17 ▲ USD to NIO rate 36.52814 ▲
USD to NOK rate 10.75951 ▲ USD to NPR rate 132.41483 ▲ USD to NZD rate 1.67957 ▲
USD to OMR rate 0.38501 ▲ USD to PAB rate 1 USD to PEN rate 3.73409 ▲
USD to PGK rate 3.68093 ▲ USD to PHP rate 56.8035 ▼ USD to PKR rate 287.72646 ▼
USD to PLN rate 4.31524 ▼ USD to PYG rate 7264.23591 ▲ USD to QAR rate 3.63986 ▲
USD to RON rate 4.67121 ▲ USD to RUB rate 96.14 ▼ USD to RWF rate 1209.9602 ▲
USD to SAR rate 3.75119 ▲ USD to SBD rate 8.40814 ▲ USD to SCR rate 12.8785 ▼
USD to SEK rate 11.04682 ▼ USD to SGD rate 1.36689 ▲ USD to SLL rate 20969.5 ▲
USD to SVC rate 8.73409 ▲ USD to SZL rate 18.77736 ▲ USD to THB rate 36.145 ▲
USD to TND rate 3.152 ▲ USD to TOP rate 2.38829 ▼ USD to TRY rate 27.2086 ▲
USD to TTD rate 6.77153 ▲ USD to TWD rate 32.1555 ▲ USD to TZS rate 2505 ▲
USD to UAH rate 36.86689 ▲ USD to UGX rate 3748.53823 ▲ USD to UYU rate 38.08005 ▲
USD to VUV rate 118.722 ▲ USD to WST rate 2.7185 ▼ USD to XAF rate 616.82703 ▲
USD to XCD rate 2.70255 ▲ USD to XOF rate 616.82703 ▲ USD to XPF rate 112.21322 ▲
USD to YER rate 250.32498 ▲ USD to ZAR rate 18.77948 ▲

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