Net migration, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Net migration, annual growth rate was -12.34 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-12.34 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 54.0%
World rank
137th
of 216 countries
All-time high
373.3 % change on previous year
in 1993
All-time low
-237.89 % change on previous year
in 1994
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Net migration, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration, annual growth rate in South Africa is -12.34 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 54.0% on the previous year and down 109.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 373.3 % change on previous year in 1993 and was at its lowest, -237.89 % change on previous year, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 137th of 216 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 205.59 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 20.86 % change on previous year | -89.9% |
| 1963 | 4.4 % change on previous year | -78.9% |
| 1964 | 4.74 % change on previous year | +7.7% |
| 1965 | 8.15 % change on previous year | +71.8% |
| 1966 | -6.18 % change on previous year | -175.8% |
| 1967 | 5.83 % change on previous year | -194.4% |
| 1968 | -3.66 % change on previous year | -162.8% |
| 1969 | -7.23 % change on previous year | +97.5% |
| 1970 | -15.99 % change on previous year | +121.2% |
| 1971 | -46.42 % change on previous year | +190.2% |
| 1972 | 15.78 % change on previous year | -134.0% |
| 1973 | 7.76 % change on previous year | -50.8% |
| 1974 | -6.34 % change on previous year | -181.7% |
| 1975 | 0.7555 % change on previous year | -111.9% |
| 1976 | -29.57 % change on previous year | -4014.1% |
| 1977 | 133.19 % change on previous year | -550.4% |
| 1978 | -2.54 % change on previous year | -101.9% |
| 1979 | -9.33 % change on previous year | +267.7% |
| 1980 | 358.3 % change on previous year | -3938.9% |
| 1981 | 8.47 % change on previous year | -97.6% |
| 1982 | 4.72 % change on previous year | -44.3% |
| 1983 | 5.79 % change on previous year | +22.7% |
| 1984 | -6.25 % change on previous year | -207.9% |
| 1985 | -15.77 % change on previous year | +152.3% |
| 1986 | -4.31 % change on previous year | -72.7% |
| 1987 | -1.44 % change on previous year | -66.7% |
| 1988 | 6.65 % change on previous year | -563.0% |
| 1989 | 3.74 % change on previous year | -43.7% |
| 1990 | 1.61 % change on previous year | -57.0% |
| 1991 | -115.07 % change on previous year | -7250.9% |
| 1992 | -82.32 % change on previous year | -28.5% |
| 1993 | 373.3 % change on previous year | -553.5% |
| 1994 | -237.89 % change on previous year | -163.7% |
| 1995 | 63.4 % change on previous year | -126.7% |
| 1996 | -96.14 % change on previous year | -251.6% |
| 1997 | 49.13 % change on previous year | -151.1% |
| 1998 | 15.75 % change on previous year | -68.0% |
| 1999 | -52.33 % change on previous year | -432.4% |
| 2000 | -8.56 % change on previous year | -83.6% |
| 2001 | 55.56 % change on previous year | -749.3% |
| 2002 | 182.76 % change on previous year | +229.0% |
| 2003 | 30.39 % change on previous year | -83.4% |
| 2004 | -10.18 % change on previous year | -133.5% |
| 2005 | -46.9 % change on previous year | +360.6% |
| 2006 | 5.99 % change on previous year | -112.8% |
| 2007 | 9.59 % change on previous year | +60.2% |
| 2008 | 1.46 % change on previous year | -84.8% |
| 2009 | 12.64 % change on previous year | +766.4% |
| 2010 | 65.1 % change on previous year | +415.2% |
| 2011 | -4.95 % change on previous year | -107.6% |
| 2012 | 305.26 % change on previous year | -6261.2% |
| 2013 | -12.06 % change on previous year | -104.0% |
| 2014 | 17.43 % change on previous year | -244.4% |
| 2015 | 135.11 % change on previous year | +675.4% |
| 2016 | -237.13 % change on previous year | -275.5% |
| 2017 | 139.03 % change on previous year | -158.6% |
| 2018 | -7.25 % change on previous year | -105.2% |
| 2019 | 4.04 % change on previous year | -155.7% |
| 2020 | 11.71 % change on previous year | +189.7% |
| 2021 | 23.88 % change on previous year | +103.9% |
| 2022 | -49.09 % change on previous year | -305.5% |
| 2023 | -2.17 % change on previous year | -95.6% |
| 2024 | -26.84 % change on previous year | +1136.8% |
| 2025 | -12.34 % change on previous year | -54.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -12.34 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -1.9 % change on previous year, 6.5× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -12.34 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.66 % change on previous year, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration, annual growth rate in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -7250.9% | 1.61 % change on previous year | -115.07 % change on previous year |
| 2012 | +6261.2% | -4.95 % change on previous year | 305.26 % change on previous year |
| 1980 | +3938.9% | -9.33 % change on previous year | 358.3 % change on previous year |
| 1976 | -4014.1% | 0.7555 % change on previous year | -29.57 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.83 % change on previous year | -7.23 % change on previous year | 205.59 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.73 % change on previous year | -46.42 % change on previous year | 133.19 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 35.99 % change on previous year | -15.77 % change on previous year | 358.3 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -8.06 % change on previous year | -237.89 % change on previous year | 373.3 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.27 % change on previous year | -46.9 % change on previous year | 182.76 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.46 % change on previous year | -237.13 % change on previous year | 305.26 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -9.14 % change on previous year | -49.09 % change on previous year | 23.88 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 134 Chile -11.32 % change on previous year compare
- 135 Canada -11.5 % change on previous year compare
- 136 Belgium -11.74 % change on previous year compare
- 138 North Korea -12.7 % change on previous year compare
- 139 Sri Lanka -12.77 % change on previous year compare
- 140 South Korea -13.47 % change on previous year compare
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0015 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 10.08 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Net migration, annual growth rate in South Africa was -12.34 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest net migration, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 373.3 % change on previous year in 1993.
- What is the lowest net migration, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -237.89 % change on previous year in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for net migration, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 137th out of 216 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 109.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Net migration, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Net migration. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Net migration World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Net migration. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.