Air passengers in South Africa
South Africa: Air passengers was 15.45 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, air passengers in South Africa stood at 15.45 million.
That represents a change of up 27.4% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in South Africa peaked at 26.21 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.52 million, in 1970.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.52 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.66 million | +9.2% |
| 1972 | 1.87 million | +12.6% |
| 1973 | 2.31 million | +23.9% |
| 1974 | 2.76 million | +19.4% |
| 1975 | 2.94 million | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 3.00 million | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 3.08 million | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 3.21 million | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 3.78 million | +17.8% |
| 1980 | 4.12 million | +8.8% |
| 1981 | 4.16 million | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 4.09 million | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 3.95 million | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 4.46 million | +12.9% |
| 1985 | 4.34 million | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 3.83 million | -11.8% |
| 1987 | 4.39 million | +14.7% |
| 1988 | 5.13 million | +16.8% |
| 1989 | 5.64 million | +10.1% |
| 1990 | 5.36 million | -4.9% |
| 1991 | 4.82 million | -10.2% |
| 1992 | 4.68 million | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 5.58 million | +19.1% |
| 1994 | 5.80 million | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 6.40 million | +10.2% |
| 1996 | 7.18 million | +12.3% |
| 1997 | 7.27 million | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 6.48 million | -10.9% |
| 1999 | 7.40 million | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 8.00 million | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 7.95 million | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 8.05 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 9.16 million | +13.7% |
| 2004 | 9.88 million | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 11.84 million | +19.9% |
| 2006 | 12.93 million | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 12.87 million | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 13.14 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 12.50 million | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 15.78 million | +26.2% |
| 2011 | 16.41 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 17.57 million | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 16.31 million | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 17.03 million | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 18.88 million | +10.9% |
| 2016 | 19.74 million | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 20.82 million | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 24.66 million | +18.4% |
| 2019 | 26.21 million | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 8.30 million | -68.3% |
| 2021 | 9.32 million | +12.2% |
| 2022 | 12.13 million | +30.2% |
| 2023 | 15.45 million | +27.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 15.45 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.37 million, 11.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 15.45 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 109,542, 141.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -68.3% | 26.21 million | 8.30 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.61 million | 1.52 million | 3.78 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.41 million | 3.83 million | 5.64 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.10 million | 4.68 million | 7.40 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.63 million | 7.95 million | 13.14 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.34 million | 15.78 million | 26.21 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.30 million | 8.30 million | 15.45 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in South Africa?
- Air passengers in South Africa was 15.45 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.21 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.52 million in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for air passengers?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.