Correction of error about size of continent

18 January 2016

On the 9th of December 2015, when addressing a business gala dinner in Sandton, President Jacob Zuma said Africa was the biggest continent on earth. 

Africa is in fact the second biggest continent in terms of population size, and the biggest continent in this regard is Asia. According to the United Nations World Population Prospects 2015, 60% of the world population lives in Asia (4.4 billion), 16% in Africa (1.2 billion), 10% in Europe (737 million), 9% in Latin America and the Caribbean (634 million), and the remaining 5% in North America (358 million) and Oceania (39 million).

The President regrets the error. 

Statement issued by Bongani Majola, The Presidency, 18 January 2016