Cultural Production in

Present Day

South Africa

Country profile iconSouth Africa

South Africa ranks #37 by number of biographies on Pantheon, behind Serbia, Egypt, and Portugal. The most famous people from South Africa are J. R. R. Tolkien, Nelson Mandela, and Elon Musk. The most famous people who died in South Africa are Nelson Mandela, Bartolomeu Dias, and Cecil Rhodes. South Africa has been the birthplace of many athletes, and soccer players and the death place of many politicians, and writers. The top cities in South Africa by number of people born are Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, and Gqeberha.

People

Between 1761 and 2005, present-day South Africa was the birthplace of 710 globally memorable people, including J. R. R. Tolkien, Nelson Mandela, and Elon Musk. Additionally, 215 globally memorable people died in present-day South Africa, including Nelson Mandela, Bartolomeu Dias, and Cecil Rhodes.

People Born in Present-Day South Africa

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Newly Added People Born in Present-Day South Africa

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People Deceased in Present-Day South Africa

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Newly Added People Deceased in Present-Day South Africa

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Occupations

Most people born in present-day South Africa were athletes (138), soccer players (115), politicians (62), actors (50), and tennis players (34),  while most who died were politicians (60), writers (18), racing drivers (17), athletes (16), and social activists (14).

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Places

Cities by Deaths in South Africa
Cities by Births in South Africa

Overlapping Lives

Below is a visualization of the lifespans of the top 25 globally memorable people born in present-day South Africa since 1700.

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