🇿🇦South Africa Political Stability: 35.7/100
South Africa scores 35.7 out of 100 on the Political Stability Index, rated "Weak" based on World Bank 2023 Worldwide Governance Indicators across six governance dimensions.
Composite score is the unweighted average of six governance dimensions, each measured on a 0-100 percentile scale.
South Africa is located in southern Africa, bordered by the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, with a coastline of over 2,500 km. The country features a large plateau with altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 2,100 meters, surrounded by the Great Escarpment, which includes the Drakensberg mountains, home to Mafadi, the highest peak at 3,450 meters.
South Africa has a population of approximately 60 million people, with a diverse cultural heritage and a mix of languages and religions. The country recognizes 11 official languages, with English, Afrikaans, and isiZulu being widely spoken.
Governance Indicators
Governance Profile: South Africa
World Bank governance: rule of law 44th percentile, corruption control 32nd percentile, political stability 13th percentile.
South Africa's strongest governance dimension is Voice & Accountability at 64/100, placing it in the upper half globally. This indicates relatively strong citizen participation in selecting government, along with freedom of expression, association, and a free media.
The weakest dimension is Political Stability at 13/100. Political instability concerns may affect the overall security environment and long-term predictability.
A wide 51-point gap between the highest and lowest indicators signals deeply uneven governance. Strong performance in Voice & Accountability contrasts sharply with weakness in Political Stability. This kind of imbalance often means that day-to-day experiences can vary dramatically depending on which government functions are involved.
Weak governance indicators for South Africa mean travelers should exercise heightened caution. Government services may be limited or unreliable, corruption can affect interactions with officials, and legal protections may not function as expected. Thorough preparation and situational awareness are essential.
The U.S. State Department currently rates South Africa as Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.
AF Governance Comparison
Top governance performers in AF based on the corruption composite ranking (weighted: 60% corruption control, 25% rule of law, 15% government effectiveness).
| Country | Score |
|---|---|
| 🇸🇨Seychelles | 72.9 |
| 🇨🇻Cape Verde | 61.9 |
| 🇲🇺Mauritius | 61.3 |
| 🇧🇼Botswana | 60.4 |
| 🇷🇼Rwanda | 59.1 |
| 🇿🇦South Africa | 34.7 |
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More South Africa Data
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