South Africa explained to kids

South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa. It is the25th-largest country in the world by land area, and with over 58 million people, it is the world's 24th-most populous nation. The World Bank classifies South Africa as an upper-middle-income economy, and a newly industrialised country. Its economy is the second-largest in Africa, and the 34th-largest in the world. In terms of purchasing power parity, South Africa has the seventh-highest per capita income in Africa. However, poverty and inequality remain widespread, with about a quarter of the population unemployed and living on less than US$1.25 a day. South Africa has been identified as a middle power in international affairs, and maintains significant regional influence. The name "South Africa" is derived from the country's geographic location at the southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named the Union of South Africa in English, reflecting its origin from the unification of four formerly separate British colonies. Since 1961, the long form name in English has been the "Republic of South Africa". In Dutch, the country was named Republiek van Zuid-Afrika, replaced in 1983 by the Afrikaans Republiek van Suid-Afrika. Since 1994, the Republic has had an official name in each of its 11 official languages. Mzansi, derived from the Xhosa noun umzantsi meaning "south", is a colloquial name for South Africa, [5] while some Pan-Africanist political parties prefer the term "Azania". South Africa is a multiparty parliamentary democracy sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho (which is completely surrounded by South Africa). It is a founding member of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and also holds membership in the Commonwealth of Nations, the Developing 8 Countries, the G20, and the United Nations. The country is host to the African Union's headquarters and 20% of the United Nations Security Council's members. With the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces as the legislative branches of government, South Africa is a parliamentary republic. The President is the head of state and the head of government, and is elected by the National Assembly to serve a five-year term. South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa with nearly complete metropolitan infrastructure, making it the economic and industrial hub of the continent. It is the world's largest producer of platinum, chromium, manganese, and vanadium; and the second-largest producer of uranium. In terms of buying power parity, it is the fourth-largest economy in Africa. The World Bank classifies South Africa as an upper-middle-income economy—one of only four such nations in Africa (alongside Botswana, Gabon and Mauritius). Its economy is the second-largest in Africa and the 34th-largest in the world. In terms of purchasing power parity, South Africa has the seventh-highest per capita income in Africa. However, poverty and inequality remain widespread, with about a quarter of the population unemployed and living on less than US$1.25 a day.