Location:
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Geographic coordinates:
29 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1,219,090 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 1,214,470 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 4,620 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
country comparison to the world: 26

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Area comparison map: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,244 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (6): Botswana 1,969 km, Lesotho 1,106 km, Mozambique 496 km, Namibia 1,005 km, Swaziland 438 km, Zimbabwe 230 km

Coastline:
2,798 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
More Climate Details

Terrain:
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Elevation:
mean elevation: 1,034 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Natural resources:
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use:
agricultural land: 79.4% arable land 9.9%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 69.2%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 7.6%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 13% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
16,700 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
the population concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Petoria; the eastern half of the country is more densly populated than the west

Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts
volcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano

Environment - current issues:
lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland