South Africa

Languages:

South Africa, a country located at the southern tip of the African continent, recognizes 11 official languages, reflecting its diverse cultural heritage. These languages include Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu. English is widely spoken and serves as the primary language in administration, education, and media. The country promotes linguistic rights, the protection of minority languages, and multilingual education to foster social cohesion and respect for its diverse cultural backgrounds.

Religion:

Religion in South Africa is diverse, with the majority of the population adhering to Christianity (84.2%). Among Christians, various denominations coexist, including Protestant (36.6%), Roman Catholic (7.1%), and other Christian groups (40.5%). The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and other significant religious communities include Muslims (1.9%), Hindus (1.2%), and Jews (0.2%). A portion of the population, approximately 10.9%, identifies as non-religious or as having no specific religious affiliation.

Ethnic Groups:

Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2018 est.) note: colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry who developed a distinct cultural identity over several hundred years