Net migration metrics in South Africa
South Africa: Net migration metrics was 228,222 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
228,222
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
12th
of 236 countries
All-time high
641,150
in 2015
All-time low
-879,235
in 2016
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 228,222 for net migration metrics in 2023.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in South Africa peaked at 641,150 in 2015 and was at its lowest, -879,235, in 2016.
South Africa ranks 12th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration metrics in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8,751 | — |
| 1951 | 7,917 | -9.5% |
| 1952 | 4,004 | -49.4% |
| 1953 | -5,554 | -238.7% |
| 1954 | -3,101 | -44.2% |
| 1955 | -2,747 | -11.4% |
| 1956 | -2,150 | -21.7% |
| 1957 | -2,989 | +39.0% |
| 1958 | -14,115 | +372.2% |
| 1959 | 4,577 | -132.4% |
| 1960 | 18,891 | +312.7% |
| 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% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 228,222 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,817. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 228,222 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -3,998. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | -372.2% | -2,989 | -14,115 |
| 1993 | +373.3% | -71,342 | 194,977 |
| 1980 | +358.3% | 56,323 | 258,127 |
| 1960 | +312.7% | 4,577 | 18,891 |
| 2012 | +305.3% | 65,166 | 264,091 |
| 1953 | -238.7% | 4,004 | -5,554 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -540.7 | -14,115 | 8,751 | 10 |
| 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 | 322,413 | 228,222 | 458,246 | 4 |
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 net migration metrics in South Africa?
- Net migration metrics in South Africa was 228,222 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 641,150 in 2015.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -879,235 in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for net migration metrics?
- South Africa ranks 12th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. 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 Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).