national Whaling Commission, IWC--International
Wheat Council, Southern African Customs Union, UN, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WSG (membership rights in IAEA, ICAO, ITU, WHO, WIPO, and WMO suspended or
restricted)

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Piet G. J. KOORNHOF; Chancery at
3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-4400;
there are South African Consulates General in Beverly Hills (California),
Chicago, Houston, and New York;
US--Ambassador William L. SWING; Embassy at Thibault House,
225 Pretorius Street, Pretoria; telephone p27o (12) 28-4266; there are
US Consulates General in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg

Flag: actually four flags in one--three miniature flags reproduced in the
center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands which has three
equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are
a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of
the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal
Republic adjoining on the other side

- Economy
Overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African
population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational
standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the
remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third
World, including unemployment, lack of job skills, and barriers to
movement into higher-paying fields. Inputs and outputs thus do not move
smoothly into the most productive employments, and the effectiveness
of the market is further lowered by international constraints on
dealings with South Africa. The main strength of the economy lies in
its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports.
Average growth of 2% in output in recent years falls far short of the
level needed to cut into the high unemployment level.

GDP: $83.5 billion, per capita $2,380; real growth rate 3.2% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.67% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 22% (1988); blacks 25-30%, up to 50% in
homelands (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $24.3 billion; expenditures $27.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA billion (FY91)

Exports: $21.5 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--gold 40%,
minerals and metals 23%, food 6%, chemicals 3%;
partners--FRG, Japan, UK, US, other EC, Hong Kong

Imports: $18.5 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities--machinery