South Africa
![Front of Maropeng at the [[Cradle of Humankind](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Maropeng_visitor_centre%2C_Cradle_of_Humankind%2C_South_Africa.jpg)
About 80% of the population are Black South Africans. The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European (White South Africans), Asian (Indian South Africans and Chinese South Africans), and multiracial (Coloured South Africans) ancestry. South Africa is a multi-ethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures, languages, and religions. Its pluralistic makeup is reflected in the Constitution's recognition of 12 official languages, the fourth-highest number in the world. According to the 2022 census, the two most spoken first languages are Zulu (24%), spoken as a first language by nearly a quarter of the country's population, and Xhosa (16.0%). The next two are of European origin: Afrikaans (13.5%), developed from Dutch, serves as the first language of most Coloured and White South Africans, while English (9.6%) reflects the legacy of British colonialism and is commonly used in public and commercial life.
Regular elections have been held for almost a century in the country. However, the vast majority of Black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994. During the 20th century, the black majority sought to claim more rights from the dominant white minority, which played a large role in the country's recent history and politics. The National Party imposed apartheid in 1948, institutionalising previous racial segregation. After a largely non-violent struggle by the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid activists both inside and outside the country, the repeal of discriminatory laws began in the mid-1980s. Since 1994, all ethnic and linguistic groups have held political representation in the country's liberal democracy, which comprises a parliamentary republic and nine provinces. South Africa is often referred to as the "rainbow nation" to describe the country's multicultural diversity, especially in the wake of apartheid. According to the 2023 V-Dem Democracy Indices, South Africa is ranked the 51st electoral democracy worldwide and the third in Africa.
South Africa is a middle power in international affairs; it maintains significant regional influence and is a member of BRICS, the African Union, SADC, SACU, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the G20. It is a developing country, ranking 110th on the Human Development Index, the 7th highest on the continent. South Africa is the only African nation to legislate same-sex marriage. It has been classified by the World Bank as a newly industrialised country and has the largest and most industrialised, technologically advanced economy in Africa, and the 38th-largest economy in the world. South Africa is tied with Ethiopia for the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa, and is a biodiversity hotspot, with unique biomes, plant and animal life. Since the end of apartheid, government accountability and quality of life have substantially improved. However, crime, poverty, and inequality remain widespread, with about 40% of the total population being unemployed , while some 60% of the population lived below the poverty line and a quarter lived below $2.15 a day. Having the highest Gini coefficient of 63.0, South Africa is considered to be one of, if not the most, unequal countries in the world. Provided by Wikipedia
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42Contributors: “...National Research Foundation, South Africa...”
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43by Cloete, R., Loock, J.C., Horsten, N.R. van, Menzel Barraqueta, Jan-Lukas, Fietz, Susanne, Mtshali, T.N., Planquette, Helene, García-Ibáñez, Maribel I., Roychoudhury, A.N.Contributors: “...National Research Foundation (South Africa)...”
Published in Marine Chemistry (2021)
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44by Quiroga, María Victoria, Valverde, Angel, Mataloni, Gabriela, Cowan, DonContributors: “...National Research Foundation South Africa...”
Published in Environmental Microbiology Reports (2015)
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45by Carpenter-Kling, T., Handley, J.M., Connan, M., Crawford, R.J.M., Makhado, A.B., Dyer, B.M., Froneman, W, Lamont, T., Wolfaardt, A.C., Landman, M., Sigqala, M., Pistorius, P.A.Contributors: “...South Africa’s National Research Foundation...”
Published in Ecological Indicators (2019)
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46Contributors: “...National Research Foundation of South Africa...”
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47by Crawford, A. B.Contributors: “...Trigonometrical Survey (South Africa)...”
Published 1948
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48Contributors: “...University of the Free State South Africa...”
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49by Van Goethem, Marc W., Pierneef, Rian, Bezuidt, Oliver K. I., Van De Peer, Yves, Cowan, Don A., Makhalanyane, Thulani P.Contributors: “...National Research Foundation of South Africa...”
Published in Microbiome (2018)
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50by Singh, Asmita, Thomalla, Sandy J., Fietz, Susanne, Ryan-Keogh, Thomas J.Contributors: “...Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa...”
Published in Frontiers in Marine Science (2022)
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51by Ryan‐Keogh, Thomas James, Bone, Emma Lewis, Thomalla, Sandy J., Lain, Lisl, Smith, Marie E., Bernard, Stewart, Vichi, MarcelloContributors: “...Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa...”
Published in Limnology and Oceanography (2023)
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52by Kharlamova, Anastasia S., Saveliev, Sergei V., Protopopov, Albert V., Maseko, Busisiwe C., Bhagwandin, Adhil, Manger, Paul R.Contributors: “...National Research Foundation of South Africa (BCM, AB, PRM)...”
Published in Journal of Comparative Neurology (2015)
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53by Kharlamova, Anastasia S., Saveliev, Sergei V., Protopopov, Albert V., Maseko, Busisiwe C., Bhagwandin, Adhil, Manger, Paul R.Contributors: “...National Research Foundation of South Africa (BCM, AB, PRM)...”
Published in Journal of Comparative Neurology (2015)
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55by Haupt, Tanya M., Sinclair, Brent J., Chown, Steven L.Contributors: “...National Research Foundation of South Africa...”
Published in Journal of Insect Physiology (2017)
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56Published 1985Contributors: “...World Conference on Sanctions against Racist South Africa (1986 : Paris, France)...”
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57by Puccinelli, Eleonora, McQuaid, Christopher D., Ansorge, Isabelle J.Contributors: “...South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology of South...”
Published in Limnology and Oceanography (2018)
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58by Faulkner, Katelyn T., Clusella‐Trullas, Susana, Peck, Lloyd S., Chown, Steven L.Contributors: “...National Research Foundation South Africa...”
Published in Functional Ecology (2014)
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59by De Vos, Alta, Justin O'Riain, M., Meyer, Michael A., Kotze, P. Gideon H., Kock, Alison A.Contributors: “...National Research Foundation of South Africa...”
Published in Marine Mammal Science (2015)
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60by Dalerum, Fredrik, Selby, Liam O. K., Pirk, Christian W. W.Contributors: “...National Research Foundation (South Africa)...”
Published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2020)
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