Young Life South Africa

At the southernmost tip of the African continent resides a country with a very fitting name – South Africa. Up until 1994, it was ruled by a white minority, which enforced a separation of races with its policy “apartheid.” After decades of international isolation, armed opposition and mass protests, it negotiated its way out of power. The now-democratic South African leadership is trying to encourage reconciliation and redress social imbalances, although it is difficult. South Africa currently has one of the continent’s biggest and most developed economies. Official unemployment is roughly 30% of the workforce and runs significantly higher among black youth. Of South Africa's 64 million people, black Africans make up 80.7% of the population. 34% of the population is under the age of 18. There are 11 official languages in South Africa, and Christians make up 81% of the population.