Country: Republic of South Africa

Population: 50.5 million (UN, 2011 estimate)

Capital: Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative)

Area: 1.219,089 sq km (470,693 sq miles)

Main languages: 11 official languages - Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati/Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu

Main religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism

Life expectancy: 58 (WHO, 2011)

Literacy Rate: Adult [15+] 89%, Youth [15-24] 97% (UNESCO, 2008)

Urban population (% of total): 62% (UN, 2012)

Population under 18 years: 18 million (UNICEF, 2011)

Child mortality: 47 children in every 1,000 likely to die before 5 years (WHO, 2011)

Child nutrition: 8.7% of children below 5 years underweight (WHO, 2012)

Number of children (0-17) who have lost one/both parents:
3.5 million (UNICEF, 2011)