Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes … annual in South Africa
South Africa: Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes … annual was 5.6 % change on previous year in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2024, arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth in South Africa stood at 5.6 % change on previous year.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 88.9% on the previous year and up 521.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth in South Africa peaked at 163.63 % change on previous year in 2022 and was at its lowest, -72.96 % change on previous year, in 2020.
That places South Africa 107th out of 174 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes … annual in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 10.84 % change on previous year | — |
| 1997 | 1.81 % change on previous year | -83.3% |
| 1998 | 15.57 % change on previous year | +759.8% |
| 1999 | 5.18 % change on previous year | -66.7% |
| 2000 | -0.38 % change on previous year | -107.3% |
| 2001 | -0.2289 % change on previous year | -39.8% |
| 2002 | 12.6 % change on previous year | -5604.3% |
| 2003 | 3.55 % change on previous year | -71.8% |
| 2004 | 3.57 % change on previous year | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 11.35 % change on previous year | +217.5% |
| 2006 | 14.76 % change on previous year | +30.0% |
| 2007 | 8.78 % change on previous year | -40.5% |
| 2008 | 5.88 % change on previous year | -33.1% |
| 2009 | -26.7 % change on previous year | -554.3% |
| 2010 | 13.62 % change on previous year | -151.0% |
| 2011 | 4.25 % change on previous year | -68.8% |
| 2012 | 10.2 % change on previous year | +140.0% |
| 2013 | 4.16 % change on previous year | -59.2% |
| 2014 | -1.33 % change on previous year | -131.9% |
| 2015 | -6.99 % change on previous year | +426.3% |
| 2016 | 14.15 % change on previous year | -302.5% |
| 2017 | 2.52 % change on previous year | -82.2% |
| 2018 | 2.06 % change on previous year | -18.5% |
| 2019 | -2 % change on previous year | -197.1% |
| 2020 | -72.96 % change on previous year | +3555.4% |
| 2021 | -23.41 % change on previous year | -67.9% |
| 2022 | 163.63 % change on previous year | -799.0% |
| 2023 | 50.6 % change on previous year | -69.1% |
| 2024 | 5.6 % change on previous year | -88.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.6 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.5 % change on previous year, 30% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.6 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.64 % change on previous year, 14% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes … annual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +5604.3% | -0.2289 % change on previous year | 12.6 % change on previous year |
| 2020 | -3555.4% | -2 % change on previous year | -72.96 % change on previous year |
| 2022 | +799.0% | -23.41 % change on previous year | 163.63 % change on previous year |
| 1998 | +759.8% | 1.81 % change on previous year | 15.57 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.35 % change on previous year | 1.81 % change on previous year | 15.57 % change on previous year | 4 |
| 2000s | 3.32 % change on previous year | -26.7 % change on previous year | 14.76 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.06 % change on previous year | -6.99 % change on previous year | 14.15 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.69 % change on previous year | -72.96 % change on previous year | 163.63 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 104 Dominican Republic 5.88 % change on previous year compare
- 105 Ukraine 5.81 % change on previous year compare
- 106 Finland 5.64 % change on previous year compare
- 108 Morocco 5.23 % change on previous year compare
- 109 Malaysia 5.2 % change on previous year compare
- 110 Libya 5.15 % change on previous year compare
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 arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth in South Africa?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth in South Africa was 5.6 % change on previous year in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 163.63 % change on previous year in 2022.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -72.96 % change on previous year in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth?
- South Africa ranks 107th out of 174 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 521.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 29 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.