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
-
61by Barbraud, Christophe, Rolland, Virginie, Jenouvrier, Stéphanie, Nevoux, Marie, Delord, Karine, Weimerskirch, HenriContributors: “...University of Pretoria South Africa -University of Pretoria South Africa...”
Published in Marine Ecology Progress Series (2012)
Get access
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
62by Quiroga, María Victoria, Mataloni, Gabriela, Wanderley, Bruno M. S., Amado, André M., Unrein, FernandoContributors: “...MINCyT, Argentina - NRF, South Africa...”
Published in Hydrobiologia (2016)
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
63Published 1986Contributors: “...World Conference on Sanctions against Racist South Africa (1986 : Paris, France); Reddy, E. S....”
Get access
Text -
64by Henson, Stephanie A., Briggs, Nathan, Carvalho, Filipa, Manno, Clara, Mignot, Alexandre, Thomalla, SandyContributors: “...South Africa Department of Science and Innovation...”
Published in Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography (2023)
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
65by Crawford, A. B.Contributors: “...Trigonometrical Survey (South Africa)...”
Published 1948
Get access
Still Image -
66by Alison, Jamie, Payne, Stephanie, Alexander, Jake M., Bjorkman, Anne D., Clark, Vincent Ralph, Gwate, Onalenna, Huntsaar, Maria, Iseli, Evelin, Lenoir, Jonathan, Mann, Hjalte Mads Rosenstand, Steenhuisen, Sandy‐Lynn, Høye, Toke ThomasContributors: “...Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa...”
Published in Global Change Biology (2023)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
67by Reisinger, Ryan, Carpenter-Kling, Tegan, Connan, Maëlle, Cherel, Yves, Pistorius, PierreContributors: “...Institute for Coastal and Marine Research and Department of Zoology South Africa...”
Published in Royal Society Open Science (2020)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
68Contributors: “...International Conference on Albatross and Petrel Conservation (4th : Cape Town, South Africa)...”
Get access
Conference Object -
69The ontogeny of at-sea behaviour in male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) at Marion Islandby Lasch, Kiara G., Tosh, Cheryl A., Bester, Marthan N., de Bruyn, P.J. NicoContributors: “...South Africa Department of Environmental Affairs...”
Published in Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology ()
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
70Contributors: “...4th International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 12...”
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
71by Carpenter-Kling, Tegan, Pistorius, Pierre, Reisinger, Ryan, Cherel, Yves, Connan, MaëlleContributors: “...Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU) Port Elizabeth, South Africa...”
Published in Movement Ecology (2020)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
72by Barbraud, Christophe, Rolland, Virginie, Jenouvrier, Stéphanie, Nevoux, Marie, Delord, Karine, Weimerskirch, HenriContributors: “...University of Pretoria South Africa -University of Pretoria South Africa...”
Published in Marine Ecology Progress Series (2012)
Get access
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
73Published 1985Contributors: “...World Conference on Sanctions against Racist South Africa (1986 : Paris, France); Reddy, E...”
Get access
Text -
74by Corbeau, A., Collet, J., Orgeret, F., Pistorius, P., Weimerskirch, H.Contributors: “...Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Port Elizabeth, South Africa...”
Published in Animal Conservation (2021)
Get access
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
75by Wege, Mia, Bornemann, Horst, Blix, Arnoldus Schytte, Nordøy, Erling Sverre, Biddle, Louise, Bester, Marthán NieuwoudtContributors: “...Department of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa...”
Published in Frontiers in Marine Science (2021)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
76by Masello, Juan F., Ryan, Peter G., Shepherd, Lara D., Quillfeldt, Petra, Cherel, Yves, Tennyson, Alan J.D., Alderman, Rachael, Calderón, Luciano, Cole, Theresa L., Cuthbert, Richard, Dilley, Ben J., Massaro, Melanie, Miskelly, Colin M., Navarro, Joan, Phillips, Richard A., Weimerskirch, Henri, Moodley, YoshanContributors: “...Department of Environmental Affairs (South Africa)...”
Published in Molecular Genetics and Genomics (2022)
Get access
Get access
Get access
Get access
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
77by Travers, Toby, van den Hoff, John, Lea, Mary-Anne, Carlyon, Kris, Reisinger, Ryan, de Bruyn, P., Morrice, MargieContributors: “...Department of Zoology South Africa...”
Published in Polar Biology (2018)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
78
-
79Contributors: “...University of Johanneshburg, Johannesburg Business School, South Africa...”
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper -
80by Orgeret, Florian, Reisinger, Ryan, Carpenter‐Kling, Tegan, Keys, Danielle, Corbeau, Alexandre, Bost, Charles‐André, Weirmerskirch, Henri, Pistorius, PierreContributors: “...Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU) Port Elizabeth, South Africa...”
Published in Journal of Animal Ecology (2021)
Get access
Get access
Article in Journal/Newspaper