South Africa is known for its ethnic and cultural diversity. Among black South Africans, a substantial number of rural inhabitants lead largely impoverished lives. As South Africans have become increasingly urbanized and Westernised, aspects of traditional culture have declined. Most South Africans speak English to some degree of proficiency, in addition to their native language, with English acting as a lingua franca in commerce, education, and government. South Africa has eleven official languages, but other indigenous languages are also spoken by smaller groups, chiefly Khoisan languages.