Background: After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch
settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery
of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and
intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted
British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The
resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the
separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid
politically and ushered in black majority rule.
Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Population: 44,344,136 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.3% (male 6,760,137/female 6,682,013)
15-64
years: 64.5% (male 13,860,727/female 14,750,496)
65 years and
over: 5.2% (male 893,360/female 1,397,403) (2005 est.)
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