Capital of South Africa: Pretoria — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of South Africa is Pretoria. South Africa sits in Africa, has a population of 59,893,885, and uses the ZAR. Official languages include Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Pretoria
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~59,893,885
- Area: 1,221,037 km²
- Population density: 49.1 people per km²
- Official languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English
- Currency: ZAR
- ISO code: ZA
How big is South Africa?
By population, South Africa ranks 24th in the world, holding roughly 0.75% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 24th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. South Africa has 49.1 people per square kilometre, which is about 1.2 times below the world average of 59.4. Its population and area ranks line up exactly, which is uncommon.
Within Africa, South Africa is the 6th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to South Africa in population are Italy (59,037,474) and France (64,626,628).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Mali (1,240,192 km²) and Angola (1,246,700 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Zulu is listed as an official language of South Africa alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
South Africa uses the ZAR, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember South Africa
South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative, with Parliament) and Bloemfontein (judicial). The quiz answer is Pretoria, home of the offices of the President and Cabinet. For the flag, picture two roads joining into one, the green Y.
The flag of South Africa: red, blue, green, black, yellow and white
🇿🇦 The flag is a horizontal green Y shape splitting a red top band from a blue bottom band, with a black triangle edged in yellow by the flagpole and thin white stripes beside the red and blue. The colours have no official meaning. The Y shape stands for 'the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity'.
Region and neighbours
South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa, at the southern tip of the continent. It shares land borders with 6 countries: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho. South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho.
- Namibia 🇳🇦 — capital Windhoek
- Botswana 🇧🇼 — capital Gaborone
- Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 — capital Harare
- Mozambique 🇲🇿 — capital Maputo
- Eswatini 🇸🇿 — capital Mbabane
- Lesotho 🇱🇸 — capital Maseru
Three facts about South Africa
- South Africa's 2,798 km coastline stretches along the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.
- Kruger National Park and Table Mountain are among South Africa's best-known tourist attractions.
- The current flag of South Africa was adopted on 27 April 1994.
Sources: Wikipedia: South Africa, Wikipedia: Flag of South Africa, Wikipedia: Pretoria, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on South Africa
- African capitals quiz — match South Africa to Pretoria
- African flags quiz — spot the South Africa flag among its neighbours
South Africa capital quiz
What is the capital of South Africa 🇿🇦?
- Dodoma
- Pretoria
- Banjul
- Conakry
Show answer
Pretoria
What is the capital of Tanzania 🇹🇿?
- Monrovia
- Khartoum
- Port Louis
- Dodoma
Show answer
Dodoma
What is the capital of Kenya 🇰🇪?
- Harare
- Praia
- Abuja
- Nairobi
Show answer
Nairobi
What is the capital of Uganda 🇺🇬?
- Ouagadougou
- Kigali
- Kampala
- Nouakchott
Show answer
Kampala
What is the capital of Sudan 🇸🇩?
- Kampala
- Yaoundé
- Khartoum
- Tripoli
Show answer
Khartoum
South Africa in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block South Africa belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of South Africa?
The capital of South Africa is Pretoria.
What is the population of South Africa?
About 59,893,885, making it the 24th most populous country in the world.
How big is South Africa?
1,221,037 square kilometres, ranking 24th by land area, at a density of 49.1 people per square kilometre.
What currency does South Africa use?
The ZAR, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the South Africa flag?
The flag of South Africa is a horizontal green Y shape splitting a red top band from a blue bottom band, with a black triangle edged in yellow by the flagpole and thin white stripes beside the red and blue. The colours have no official meaning. The Y shape stands for 'the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity'.
Which countries border South Africa?
South Africa shares land borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho. South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho.
How can I remember the capital of South Africa?
South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative, with Parliament) and Bloemfontein (judicial). The quiz answer is Pretoria, home of the offices of the President and Cabinet. For the flag, picture two roads joining into one, the green Y.
More capitals to learn
Get the free Mind Skills Arcade app
Brain games for memory, logic, math and focus, free and offline: Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store