South Africa
General Data
Area: 1,129,266 sq.km (433,678 sq.miles); 11% arable, 65% meadows and pastures, 3% forest and woodland, 21 % other.
Coastline: 2,9541an (1,836 miles).
Maritime claims: Territorial waters 22km (12nm), EEZ 370km (200nm), continental shelf -200m or to depth of exploitation.
Population: 43,647,658 (July 2002 est.); annual growth rate 0.02% (2002 est.). The population is 75.2% black, 13.6% white, 8.6% coloured, 2.6% Asian.
Religions: 68% Christian, 1.5% Hindu, 2% Muslim, 28.5% indigenous beliefs.
Languages: Eleven official languages. Literacy rate: 85%.
Government
Long-form or legal name: Republic of South Africa.
Type of government: Republic.
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces.
Legal system: Based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law.
Branches of government: The President (elected by the National Assembly) is Head of State and Government and Chairman of the Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the President; bicameral legislature (400-member National Assembly and 90-member National Council of Provinces); the 9 provincial parliaments each appoint 10 members to the National Council of Provinces; judiciary headed by Supreme Court; separate Constitutional Court.
Suffrage: Universal over age 18.
Member of: UN, AU, IAEA, ICAO SADC, ISDSC and others.
(Suite)-
01 Janvier 2003 à 13:48 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
