Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in South Africa
South Africa: Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp was 0.2352 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in South Africa is 0.2352, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.2614 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.0459, in 1996.
That places South Africa 162nd out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.0726 | — |
| 1971 | 0.0657 | -9.5% |
| 1972 | 0.0688 | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 0.0477 | -30.6% |
| 1974 | 0.0638 | +33.7% |
| 1975 | 0.083 | +30.1% |
| 1976 | 0.0699 | -15.9% |
| 1977 | 0.0634 | -9.2% |
| 1978 | 0.0847 | +33.5% |
| 1979 | 0.0811 | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 0.075 | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 0.0933 | +24.3% |
| 1982 | 0.0937 | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 0.0765 | -18.3% |
| 1984 | 0.0763 | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 0.0601 | -21.3% |
| 1986 | 0.0484 | -19.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0469 | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 0.0478 | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 0.0819 | +71.5% |
| 1990 | 0.1076 | +31.3% |
| 1991 | 0.0955 | -11.2% |
| 1992 | 0.0812 | -15.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0691 | -14.9% |
| 1994 | 0.0643 | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 0.0481 | -25.2% |
| 1996 | 0.0459 | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 0.1042 | +127.0% |
| 1998 | 0.169 | +62.3% |
| 1999 | 0.2025 | +19.8% |
| 2000 | 0.2139 | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 0.2079 | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 0.2077 | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 0.1984 | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 0.183 | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 0.2124 | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 0.2277 | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 0.2379 | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 0.2479 | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 0.2614 | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 0.2563 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 0.2528 | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 0.2497 | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 0.2421 | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 0.2396 | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 0.238 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.2335 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 0.2291 | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 0.2292 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.2286 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 0.2399 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 0.2206 | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 0.2141 | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 0.2106 | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 0.2132 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 0.2352 | +10.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.2352 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.62, 7% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.2352 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.52, 9% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +127.0% | 0.0459 | 0.1042 |
| 1989 | +71.5% | 0.0478 | 0.0819 |
| 1998 | +62.3% | 0.1042 | 0.169 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0701 | 0.0477 | 0.0847 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.07 | 0.0469 | 0.0937 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0987 | 0.0459 | 0.2025 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2198 | 0.183 | 0.2614 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2399 | 0.2286 | 0.2563 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2223 | 0.2106 | 0.2399 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in South Africa?
- Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in South Africa was 0.2352 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2614 in 2009.
- What is the lowest money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0459 in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 162nd out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).