South Africa Facts
Capital of South AfricaThe capital of South Africa is Pretoria.
| Capital | Pretoria |
| Population (UN estimate, 2024, rounded) | 63 million |
| Total area | 1,221,037 km² |
| Population density (calculated) | 52 people per km² |
| Currency | South African rand (ZAR) |
| Region | Africa |
How we got the density
- Density is the one figure on this page that is calculated rather than looked up: population ÷ area.
- 63 million people = 63,000,000 people. Divided by 1,221,037 km²: 51.6 people per km², which rounds to 52.
Check it backwards
52 × 1,221,037 km² ≈ 63,005,509 people — back to the population, apart from the rounding of the density to a whole number.
Questions people also ask
What is the capital of South Africa?
The capital of South Africa is Pretoria.
How many people live in South Africa?
About 63 million, by the UN World Population Prospects 2024 estimate (rounded). Population density works out to 52 people per km².
How big is South Africa?
South Africa covers 1,221,037 km² in total area.
What currency does South Africa use?
The South African rand (ZAR).