South Africa
Africa
Key facts
- Capital
- Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
- Population
- 64,747,319
- 2025
- Area
- 1,219,602 km²
- Official languages
- Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati and 8 more
- Currency
- South African Rand
- ZAR
- GDP per capita
- US$6,598
- 2025
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed with conditions
- Since the May 2025 court ruling, South Africans keep citizenship when acquiring another; foreigners must renounce only if their own country bars dual citizenship.
South Africa (Africa) has data on 12/14 Prosperous Intelligence indices. Strongest relative position: Passport Index — #64/198 (36.2/100). Lowest relative position: Global Safety Index — #187/203 (39.9/100). The passport ranks #64/198 and reaches 89 destinations without a consular visa in advance. Global Citizenship Score 45.2/100 (#138/199). On the entry side, 93/197 passports can enter South Africa without a consular visa in advance. The dataset records 2 active citizenship and residence programmes in South Africa.
Scores on 12 indices
- Health & Longevity59.5
- Safety & Stability39.9
- Economy & Income43.3
- Education50.8
- Environment & Clean Water55.1
- Infrastructure80.7
- Digital Connectivity59.6
- Equality24.0
- Learning Quality14.3
- Educational Attainment80.8
- Expected Years of Schooling37.9
- Education Spending60.6
- Basic Access79.4
- Violent Crime4.4
- Stability & Absence of Terrorism43.2
- Law Enforcement & Order51.7
- Road Safety42.9
- Absence of Armed Conflict100.0
- Health Outcomes57.1
- Coverage & Access84.4
- Health Workforce & Facilities27.1
- Spending & Investment33.8
- Financial Protection94.5
- Personal Income Tax18.2
- Capital Gains & Dividends53.0
- System & Incentives45.0
- Net Wealth Tax100.0
- Inheritance & Gift Tax55.6
- Corporate & Social Security52.1
- Rule of Law & Property Rights45.5
- Political Stability43.2
- Institutions & Regulation45.5
- Financial Soundness56.3
- Monetary Stability66.2
- Freedom of Capital Movement55.0
- Education50.8
- Healthcare59.5
- Safety39.9
- Quality of Life50.1
- Cost of living74.3
- Passport36.2
- Passport36.2
- Quality of Life50.1
- Safety39.9
- Healthcare59.5
- Purchasing power & price stability31.2
- Education50.8
- Wealth Protection50.9
- Tax50.2
- Cost of living74.3
- Healthcare59.5
- Safety39.9
- Quality of Life50.1
- Tax50.2
- Wealth Protection50.9
- Affordable Prices77.7
- Price Stability66.2
- Purchasing power22.4
At a glance
Entering South Africa
- Visa-free: 93 passports
- Visa on arrival: 0 passports
- eTA: 0 passports
- e-Visa: 4 passports
- Consular visa required: 100 passports
Regional position and data sources
- First in Africa on 0/12 indices
- Above the regional median on 8/12 indices
- Each index lists its source and data date on the Data sources page
Citizenship and residence programmes in the dataset
- Business Visa / Business PR (Immigration Act 13/2002)
- Remote Work Visitor Visa
Frequently asked questions about South Africa
What is the capital of South Africa?
South Africa has 3 capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative) and Bloemfontein (judicial).
What is the population of South Africa?
According to the World Bank, South Africa had a population of 64,747,319 in 2025.
What are the official languages of South Africa?
The official languages of South Africa are Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, South African Sign Language, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu.
What currency does South Africa use?
South Africa uses the South African Rand (ZAR).
Does South Africa allow dual citizenship?
Since the May 2025 court ruling, South Africans keep citizenship when acquiring another; foreigners must renounce only if their own country bars dual citizenship.
How strong is the South Africa passport?
The South Africa passport ranks #64 of 198 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Passport Index and reaches 89 destinations without applying for a consular visa in advance (visa-free, visa on arrival or eTA).
How many destinations require a visa for South Africa passport holders?
Holders of the South Africa passport must apply for a consular visa before travelling to 112 destinations and need an e-Visa for 46. Full list: South Africa passport page.
How many passports can enter South Africa without applying for a visa in advance?
93 of 197 passports can enter South Africa without applying for a consular visa in advance: 93 visa-free. 4 need an e-Visa and 100 must apply for a consular visa.
What citizenship and residency programmes does South Africa offer?
The Prosperous Intelligence dataset records 2 active citizenship and residency programmes in South Africa: Business Visa / Business PR (Immigration Act 13/2002) and Remote Work Visitor Visa. Details: Opportunity Map.
What is the minimum investment for residency or citizenship in South Africa?
In South Africa, Business Visa / Business PR (Immigration Act 13/2002) requires a minimum investment of US$280,000 (reference USD conversion).
How long does an application take in South Africa?
In South Africa, an application under Remote Work Visitor Visa takes about 0 months (reference processing time).
How long does it take to become a citizen of South Africa through these programmes?
Through Business Visa / Business PR (Immigration Act 13/2002), citizenship of South Africa is possible after about 5 years, after a period of permanent residence (reference time).
How many days a year do you need to spend in South Africa?
In South Africa, Remote Work Visitor Visa requires 0 days of physical presence a year (reference figure).
Can family members join programmes in South Africa?
Family members included: Business Visa / Business PR (Immigration Act 13/2002): spouse; Remote Work Visitor Visa: spouse and children under 18.
Where is South Africa strongest and weakest in Prosperous Intelligence’s indices?
Relative to other countries, South Africa is strongest on the Passport Index (#64 of 198) and weakest on the Global Safety Index (#187 of 203).
How does South Africa rank for quality of life?
South Africa scores 50.1/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Quality of Life Index, ranking #168 of 211.
Is South Africa expensive to live in?
South Africa scores 74.3/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Cost of Living Index, ranking #81 of 200. This is the affordability-of-living-costs score: a higher score means lower prices.
How safe is South Africa?
South Africa scores 39.9/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Global Safety Index, ranking #187 of 203.
How does South Africa rank for healthcare?
South Africa scores 59.5/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Healthcare Index, ranking #83 of 192.
How does South Africa rank for education?
South Africa scores 50.8/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Education Index, ranking #136 of 191.
What the profile contains
- Key facts from government and international sources
- Scores and global ranks on 12 Prosperous Intelligence indices
- Entry rules, passport strength and residency programmes
Why the profile matters
- Compare one country across many criteria on a single page
- Not a substitute for legal, tax or investment advice
Method
- How each index is scored and weighted
- The limits of the data and how to check official sources
