Socio-culture in South Africa – Georgia State University

The Socio-Cultural Environment in South Africa

South Africa has 11 official languages: IsiZulu 25.3%, IsiXhosa 14.8%, Afrikaans 12.2%, English 8.1%, Sepedi 10.1%, Setswana 9.1%, Sesotho 7.9%,Xitsonga 3.6%, siSwati 2.8%, Tshivenda 2.5%, isiNdebele 1.6%, sign language and others 2% (2018).
There are many different religions in South Africa. Zion Christian – 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic – 8.2%, Catholic – 7.1%, Methodist – 6.8%, Dutch Reformed – 6.7%, Anglican – 3.8%, other Christian – 36%, Islam – 1.5%, others – 2.3%, unspecified – 1.4%, none – 15.1%.
South Africa is made up of several different ethnic groups. As of 2021, The country is categorized as a Rainbow society, meaning they have a wide diversity of people who live there. Estimated, 80.9% Black African, 7.8% White, 8.8% Mulato(Colored), Indian/Asian 2.6%.
In rural and tribal areas, foreign women are treated with greater respect than native women. However, they are still expected to know very little about typical “male” pursuits like sports, math, and science. In rural villages drinking alcohol for a woman means that she lacks virtues.

Population in South Africa is about 59,910,958 (2022, 24th most populous globally)
Population Growth Annual Rate: 1.12% (2022)_ranked 111 globally.
Urban Population: 68.3% (2022).
Birth Rate: 18.56 births/1,000, ranked 77 globally (2022).
Infant Mortality Rate: 25.87 per 1,000 births (2022)- ranked 64 globally.
Life Expectancy at birth: 64 years (2020).
Death Rate: 9.26 deaths/1,000 population, ranked 52nd highest globally (2022).

5.63% of the population ages 65 and above, is the 6th highest in Africa and 108 globally (2021).
The age dependency ratio for South Africa is 52.4% ranking 45 in Africa and 115 globally (2021).
South African society is very liberal, as gay marriage was legalized in 2006 nationwide and everyone’s rights are protected under the constitution.
Human flight and brain drain index is 4.8/10 making it the 4th lowest in Africa and 112th highest globally (2022).
South Africans usually express affection very openly. Shaking hands and slaps on the back are extremely common.
The maternal mortality per 100,000 live births is 119, making South Africa the 9th lowest in Africa and 64th highest globally (2017).

South Africa has 71.11 points, the 4th highest healthcare price index in Africa and the 59th highest globally (2017).
One major issue with healthcare is that the cheaper hospitals are understaffed and overcrowded, whereas private hospitals are very modern but relatively expensive recording 0.79 doctors per 1,000 people and 1.1 nurses per 1,000 people (2019).
The Urban population in 2022 is 68.3% of the total population with an estimated 1.72% annual rate of urbanization change between 2020-2025.
South Africa’s stability and economic prosperity have functioned as a magnet for migrants and asylum seekers from neighboring nations, notwithstanding the presence of discrimination and xenophobic violence.
The Human Capital Index (HCI) for South Africa is 0.4 out of 1 (2020).
As of 2019, 95.5% of men and 94.5% of women are literate.

The happiness index for South Africa is 5.19/10, making it the 4th happiest in Africa (2021).
South Africa is ranked 109/191 on the Human Development Index(HDI) with a 0.713 value, a 0.014 decrease from 2020, which is slightly below the global average of 0.732 (2021). South Africa’s HDI value is a High Human Development Classification.

Men dominate the workplace more than women in South Africa. Businesses and the government are working to make changes and adopt equality and fairness. Men are still the more dominant figures in leadership positions which has been the case historically. Men are still considered the heads of families and breadwinners.
AIDS is very prevalent in South Africa and the crime rate is exceptionally high. The adult prevalence rate was 19.1% in 2020, with 7.8 million people with HIV/AIDS, ranked 4th highest globally.
Laws for drinking and smoking are not enforced.
Kidnapping is widespread with 9.6 kidnappings per 100,000 people making it the 3rd highest globally (2017). Homicide rates are 35.9 per 100,000 people, 4th globally (2017).
South Africa has 32 deaths of children under 5 years per 1000 live births, the 10th lowest in Africa and the 56th highest globally (2020).