List of Natural Resources in South Africa

South Africa is generally known for its abundance of natural resources. The country is endowed with a huge variety of natural resources ranging from its mineral resources to its wildlife. South Africa has one of the best-developed economies in Africa and this is related to how the country has been able to harness its arsenal of natural resources.

South Africa has successfully been able to utilize its diverse natural resources. The International Monetary Fund reported that South Africa’s GDP was the 35th highest in the world as of 2018.

The country’s GDP was approximately $371 million. This spells out the importance and prospect of South Africa’s natural resources. We will be bringing a list of the natural resources that can be found in South Africa.

Beautiful Scenery

It is not surprising that the beautiful and attractive landscapes contribute to the country’s natural resources. South Africa is considered to be one of the most beautiful countries and its enviable beauty attracts a huge number of tourists every year.

The tourism sector is one of the countries largest employers of labour, with more than 10% of its labour force in the sector as of 2012.

South Africa attracts tourists from other African countries like Mozambique, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, and even countries from outside Africa.

There have been efforts of the South African government to improve this natural resource and increase the volume of tourists the country gets. The government has implemented policies to improve security and infrastructure,

Forests

South Africa does not have many forests in quantity, but the extent of influence the forest resources in the country has makes it recognizable as a natural resource. Research shows that forest in South Africa covers only 0.47% of the country’s land. Despite this little size, the forests are a large part of the country’s natural resources.

South Africa’s forest sector employs a large portion of the population. It is estimated to have employed nearly 160,000 people and has also donated about 11% of the country’s agricultural income.

Mineral Resources

South Africa is also very popular for its mineral resources. its natural resources also include every gold, coal, and diamonds that contribute to the country’s revenue.

The country has been blessed with a lot of mineral resources. It is one of the largest producers and exporters of coal in the world. The country uses about 40% of its coal tor energy generation and exports the rest to other countries.

Gold in South Africa was discovered in the late 1800s and now, it is in abundant supply. It has about 50% of the world’s gold reserves. The country exports the majority of the gold it produces. South Africa has more than 30 mines where gold is constantly produced.

South Africa also produces large volumes of platinum, having over 80% of the world’s platinum reserve. It is also one of the world’s major diamond producers with more than 15,000,000 carats produced. The country also has uranium has one of its mineral resources.

Arable Lands

Arable land is also one of South Africa’s natural resources. the country has a bunch of fertile areas that support the cultivation of crops. These areas include KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Agriculture is also one of the country’s employers of labour and is very diverse in terms of its products. The country produces a wide range of crops like wheat, maize, grapefruits, and so on.

South Africa is also endowed with a variety of fruits. Grapes, peach, pineapple, apple, and so on. They are all examples of the major fruits grown in the country. Most of the fruits produced in South Africa are exported, especially to European countries.

All this talk about natural resources in South Africa would have made you curious about other aspects of the country. Guess what? You can also read up on other aspects concerning the country on this site. If you have any thoughts or comments on this topic, feel free to make use of the comment section.