South Africa

1950

2025

2100

1950

2025

2100

Net immigration of 146,370 people per year—more people arriving than leaving.

Since 1950, South Africa has gained a cumulative 6.5 million people through migration.

By 2100, projections show continued net immigration.

Net migrants

+146,370

Net migration rate

+2.3 per 1,000 people

Key terms

Net migration: — Immigrants minus emigrants. Positive = more people arriving, negative = more leaving.
Net migration rate: — Net migration per 1,000 population per year.
Immigration: — People entering the country from abroad.
Emigration: — People leaving the country to live abroad.

Migration flows

Net migration from 1950 to 2100 (projections after 2024)

Net migrants

+20,109,296

Cumulative over selected range

Peak immigration

641,150

Top year: 2015

Peak emigration

-879,235

Lowest year: 2016

Recent avg (10 yrs)

+184617

Per year

South Africa receives approximately 146,370 net migrants per year (2.3 per 1,000 population). Peak immigration was 641,150 in 2015.

South Africa experiences moderate net immigration, with more people arriving than leaving.

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024. Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100).