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Photos of South Africa

African penguins- also called the black-footed penguin, Cape penguin, or jackass penguin (due to their mating call resembling a braying donkey)-are the only penguin species that live on the African continent, mainly along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. The species subsists on squid, southern African pilchards, horse mackerel, and anchovies and penguins can reach up to 60–68 cm (24–27 in) in length and weigh up to 3.7–4 kg (8–9 lbs).  African penguins face threats of overfishing of their food supply, climate change threats to the marine ecosystem, pollution, and disease. Pictured are African penguins at the Boulders Penguin Colony in Table Mountain National Park.

Introduction

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Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 26

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:
Area comparison map

People and Society

Age structure

2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid

Median age

comparison ranking: total 136

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 90

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 82

Death rate

comparison ranking: 124

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 104

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 59

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 71

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 78

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 84

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 27

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 3

Government

Economy

Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 178

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 126

Labor force

comparison ranking: 28

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 207

Public debt

comparison ranking: 43

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 39

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 188

Exports

comparison ranking: 43

Imports

comparison ranking: 43

Debt - external

comparison ranking: 12

Energy

Communications

Internet users

comparison ranking: total 24

Transportation

Airports

comparison ranking: 13

Railways

comparison ranking: total 8

Roadways

comparison ranking: total 11

Merchant marine

comparison ranking: total 86

Military and Security

Military expenditures

comparison ranking: 146

Space

Terrorism

Transnational Issues