South Africa's population
South Africa is a nation of over 47-million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages and beliefs.
According to the mid-2007 estimates from Statistics South Africa, the country's population stands at some 47.9-million, up from the census 2001 count of 44.8-million.
According to the mid-2007 estimates from Statistics South Africa, the country's population stands at some 47.9-million, up from the census 2001 count of 44.8-million.
South Africa's population by race
Africans are in the majority at just over 38-million. Black people make up 79.6% of South Africa's population. The Blacks belong to several ethnic groups such as the Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, and Swazi. The Zulu are the largest of these groups, making up about 22% of the black population.
There are some white skinned South Africans too. The white population is estimated at 4.3-million (9.1%). Another group of people in South Africa are known as the Coloured people and are of mixed racial origin, mainly black and white. The coloured population at 4.2-million (8.9%) and the Indian/Asian population at just short of 1.2-million (2.5%).
South Africa has a multiracial and multiethnic population. The reason why South Africa is so heterogeneous is because people came to the country from all different places such as Western Europe, South and Southeast Asia, and other parts of Africa itself. While more than three-quarters of South Africa's population is black African, this category is neither culturally nor linguistically homogenous.
South Africa's population by language
The majority of South Africa's Asian population is Indian in origin, many of them descended from indentured workers brought to work on the sugar plantations of the eastern coastal area then known as Natal in the 19th century. They are largely English-speaking, although many also retain the languages of their origins. There is also a significant group of Chinese South Africans.
Religions in South Africa
There are some white skinned South Africans too. The white population is estimated at 4.3-million (9.1%). Another group of people in South Africa are known as the Coloured people and are of mixed racial origin, mainly black and white. The coloured population at 4.2-million (8.9%) and the Indian/Asian population at just short of 1.2-million (2.5%).
South Africa has a multiracial and multiethnic population. The reason why South Africa is so heterogeneous is because people came to the country from all different places such as Western Europe, South and Southeast Asia, and other parts of Africa itself. While more than three-quarters of South Africa's population is black African, this category is neither culturally nor linguistically homogenous.
South Africa's population by language
Nine of the country's 11 official languages are African, reflecting a variety of ethnic groupings which nonetheless have a great deal in common in terms of background, culture and descent.
Africans include the Nguni people, comprising the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi; the Sotho-Tswana people, comprising the Southern, Northern and Western Sotho (Tswana); the Tsonga; and the Venda.
White, 'Coloured', Asian South AfricansSouth Africa's white population descends largely from the colonial immigrants of the late 17th, 18th and 19th centuries - Dutch, German, French Huguenot and British. Linguistically it is divided into Afrikaans- and English-speaking groups, although many small communities that have immigrated over the last century retain the use of other languages.
The label "coloured" is a contentious one, but still used for people of mixed race descended from slaves brought in from East and central Africa, the indigenous Khoisan who lived in the Cape at the time, indigenous Africans and whites. The majority speak Afrikaans.
The original inhabitants: now a tiny community in the Kalahari Desert, the San once had southern Africa to themselves
Khoisan is a term used to describe two separate groups, physically similar in being light-skinned and small in stature. The Khoi, who were called Hottentots by the Europeans, were pastoralists and were effectively annihilated; the San, called Bushmen by the Europeans, were hunter-gatherers. A small San population still lives in South Africa.
Africans include the Nguni people, comprising the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi; the Sotho-Tswana people, comprising the Southern, Northern and Western Sotho (Tswana); the Tsonga; and the Venda.
White, 'Coloured', Asian South AfricansSouth Africa's white population descends largely from the colonial immigrants of the late 17th, 18th and 19th centuries - Dutch, German, French Huguenot and British. Linguistically it is divided into Afrikaans- and English-speaking groups, although many small communities that have immigrated over the last century retain the use of other languages.
The label "coloured" is a contentious one, but still used for people of mixed race descended from slaves brought in from East and central Africa, the indigenous Khoisan who lived in the Cape at the time, indigenous Africans and whites. The majority speak Afrikaans.
The original inhabitants: now a tiny community in the Kalahari Desert, the San once had southern Africa to themselves
Khoisan is a term used to describe two separate groups, physically similar in being light-skinned and small in stature. The Khoi, who were called Hottentots by the Europeans, were pastoralists and were effectively annihilated; the San, called Bushmen by the Europeans, were hunter-gatherers. A small San population still lives in South Africa.
The majority of South Africa's Asian population is Indian in origin, many of them descended from indentured workers brought to work on the sugar plantations of the eastern coastal area then known as Natal in the 19th century. They are largely English-speaking, although many also retain the languages of their origins. There is also a significant group of Chinese South Africans.Religions in South Africa
In terms of religious affiliation, about two-thirds of South Africans are Christian, mainly Protestant. They belong to a variety of churches, including many that combine Christian and traditional African beliefs. Many non-Christians espouse these traditional beliefs. Other significant religions are Islam, Hinduism and Judaism.
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