The country has 11 official languages – the most commonly spoken first languages are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English.
Although unemployment, poverty and inequality rates are among the highest in the world and remain a challenge, South Africa has well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy and transport sectors. State-owned enterprises are significant in the country’s economy, with the government owning a share in around 700 enterprises across a wide array of industries.
The country’s major export commodities are gold diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, as well as machinery and equipment.