Net migration in South Africa
South Africa: Net migration was 146,370 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in South Africa stood at 146,370.
The figure is down 12.3% on the previous year and down 77.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in South Africa peaked at 641,150 in 2015 and was at its lowest, -879,235, in 2016.
That places South Africa 9th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 18,891 | — |
| 1961 | 57,728 | +205.6% |
| 1962 | 69,771 | +20.9% |
| 1963 | 72,844 | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 76,298 | +4.7% |
| 1965 | 82,514 | +8.1% |
| 1966 | 77,417 | -6.2% |
| 1967 | 81,932 | +5.8% |
| 1968 | 78,932 | -3.7% |
| 1969 | 73,225 | -7.2% |
| 1970 | 61,514 | -16.0% |
| 1971 | 32,961 | -46.4% |
| 1972 | 38,163 | +15.8% |
| 1973 | 41,125 | +7.8% |
| 1974 | 38,518 | -6.3% |
| 1975 | 38,809 | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 27,333 | -29.6% |
| 1977 | 63,739 | +133.2% |
| 1978 | 62,121 | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 56,323 | -9.3% |
| 1980 | 258,127 | +358.3% |
| 1981 | 279,985 | +8.5% |
| 1982 | 293,195 | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 310,172 | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 290,789 | -6.2% |
| 1985 | 244,940 | -15.8% |
| 1986 | 234,378 | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 231,009 | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 246,382 | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 255,605 | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 259,718 | +1.6% |
| 1991 | -39,131 | -115.1% |
| 1992 | -71,342 | +82.3% |
| 1993 | 194,977 | -373.3% |
| 1994 | -268,849 | -237.9% |
| 1995 | -98,403 | -63.4% |
| 1996 | -193,007 | +96.1% |
| 1997 | -98,181 | -49.1% |
| 1998 | -82,722 | -15.7% |
| 1999 | -126,011 | +52.3% |
| 2000 | -136,794 | +8.6% |
| 2001 | -60,793 | -55.6% |
| 2002 | 50,313 | -182.8% |
| 2003 | 65,604 | +30.4% |
| 2004 | 58,924 | -10.2% |
| 2005 | 31,286 | -46.9% |
| 2006 | 33,159 | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 36,339 | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 36,869 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 41,528 | +12.6% |
| 2010 | 68,563 | +65.1% |
| 2011 | 65,166 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 264,091 | +305.3% |
| 2013 | 232,230 | -12.1% |
| 2014 | 272,697 | +17.4% |
| 2015 | 641,150 | +135.1% |
| 2016 | -879,235 | -237.1% |
| 2017 | 343,146 | -139.0% |
| 2018 | 318,260 | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 331,124 | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 369,901 | +11.7% |
| 2021 | 458,246 | +23.9% |
| 2022 | 233,284 | -49.1% |
| 2023 | 228,222 | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 166,972 | -26.8% |
| 2025 | 146,370 | -12.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 146,370 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,815. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 146,370 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +373.3% | -71,342 | 194,977 |
| 1980 | +358.3% | 56,323 | 258,127 |
| 2012 | +305.3% | 65,166 | 264,091 |
| 1994 | -237.9% | 194,977 | -268,849 |
| 2016 | -237.1% | 641,150 | -879,235 |
| 1961 | +205.6% | 18,891 | 57,728 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 68,955 | 18,891 | 82,514 | 10 |
| 1970s | 46,061 | 27,333 | 63,739 | 10 |
| 1980s | 264,458 | 231,009 | 310,172 | 10 |
| 1990s | -52,295 | -268,849 | 259,718 | 10 |
| 2000s | 15,644 | -136,794 | 65,604 | 10 |
| 2010s | 165,719 | -879,235 | 641,150 | 10 |
| 2020s | 267,166 | 146,370 | 458,246 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 in South Africa?
- Net migration in South Africa was 146,370 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 641,150 in 2015.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -879,235 in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for net migration?
- South Africa ranks 9th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.