South Africa: immigration

How many people does South Africa deport?

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs carried out 57,784 deportations in 2025/26, 12% more than the 51,560 in 2024/25, according to a department statement reported by SAnews on 9 April 2026. Deportations were 39,672 in 2023/24.

Deportations remove foreign nationals found in the country without legal status, such as people who overstayed visas or entered irregularly. The figures cover the financial year from April to March. The department links the rise to enforcement operations and the use of biometric verification.

Official sources: SAnews: Deportations rise over two financial years

How many immigrants come to South Africa?

Net international migration to South Africa was estimated at 883,807 people for the five years from mid-2021 to mid-2026, according to Stats SA's Mid-year population estimates 2026. This compares with 926,727 for 2016 to 2021 and 1,054,900 for 2011 to 2016.

Net migration is arrivals minus departures. Stats SA bases the estimate on census data, permit numbers and international sources, and notes that irregular migration is often missed in official data. The estimate is an assumption used to build the population model, not a count of border crossings.

Official sources: Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates 2026 (PDF)

Are South Africans emigrating?

Stats SA's Mid-year population estimates 2026 assume a net outflow of 94,898 people in the white population group between mid-2021 and mid-2026, while overall net international migration was positive, at 883,807. The net outflow for the white population group was 90,957 in 2016 to 2021.

South Africa does not publish a direct count of citizens who emigrate. Stats SA's estimates are modelling assumptions drawn from census data and international sources, such as statistics from countries that receive migrants. They describe net movements, so they do not show how many people left and how many returned.

Official sources: Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates 2026 (PDF)

Which provinces do people move to in South Africa?

Gauteng and the Western Cape were estimated to receive the largest inflows of migrants between 2021 and 2026, at about 1,420,447 and 500,093 people respectively, according to Stats SA's Mid-year population estimates 2026. Gauteng had about 16.30 million people (25.7% of the population) in 2026.

These inflows include people moving from other provinces and from other countries. Stats SA estimates migration streams between provinces from census data. KwaZulu-Natal had the second-largest population, at 12.28 million.

Official sources: Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates 2026 (PDF)

How big is South Africa's asylum appeals backlog?

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber estimated South Africa's asylum appeals backlog at about 120,000 cases on 11 October 2026, according to SAnews, adding that the department would provide a confirmed figure. He said a biometric online platform for asylum applications was expected to be operational by 10 November 2026.

Asylum seekers whose claims are rejected can appeal. The minister said the platform would verify identities and identify applicants who had lodged rejected claims before.

Official sources: SAnews: Home Affairs to digitise asylum applications to speed up processing

How many immigrants live in South Africa?

4.1%: that is the share of people born abroad in South Africa for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. In 2015 the figure was 5.6%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 2.2%; South Africa is 11th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 101st highest.

What is net migration in South Africa?

According to the UN Population Division, net migration in South Africa was 146,370 in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2015, at 641,150; its low point was 2016, at -879,235. It is 2nd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is -5,646. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 9th highest.

How many refugees are in South Africa?

55,177: that is the number of refugees in the country in South Africa for 2025, according to UNHCR. The peak was 121,635 in 2015 and the low 29,716 in 2005. It is 20th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 35,241. Worldwide: 61st of 169.

How many refugees have fled South Africa?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 1,319. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 33rd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 12,726. Worldwide: 99th of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to South Africa?

According to the World Bank, personal remittances received in South Africa was 0.2% of GDP in 2025. The peak was 0.3% of GDP in 2009 and the low 0.2% of GDP in 2023. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 2.6% of GDP, and South Africa placed 18th highest of 20. Of 127 countries with 2025 data, 104th highest.