Average length of stay of international visitors in South Africa

South Africa: Average length of stay of international visitors was 8.7 days in 2013. ▼ Falling

Latest (2013)
8.7 days
Change on year
up 13.0%
World rank
21st
of 152 countries
All-time high
10.1 days
in 2002
All-time low
7.7 days
in 2012
Years of data
12
2002–2013

Average length of stay of international visitors in South Africa, 2002–2013

02.557.5102002200720132002: 10.1 days2003: 9.6 days2004: 9 days2005: 8.4 days2006: 8.2 days2007: 7.9 days2008: 8.2 days2009: 8.3 days2010: 8.5 days2011: 8.3 days2012: 7.7 days2013: 8.7 days

Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in days.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 8.7 days for average length of stay of international visitors in 2013.

The figure is up 13.0% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average length of stay of international visitors in South Africa peaked at 10.1 days in 2002 and was at its lowest, 7.7 days, in 2012.

South Africa ranks 21st of 152 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Average length of stay of international visitors in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Average length of stay of international visitors in South Africa, 2002 to 2013.
Year days Change
2002 10.1 days —
2003 9.6 days -5.0%
2004 9 days -6.2%
2005 8.4 days -6.7%
2006 8.2 days -2.4%
2007 7.9 days -3.7%
2008 8.2 days +3.8%
2009 8.3 days +1.2%
2010 8.5 days +2.4%
2011 8.3 days -2.4%
2012 7.7 days -7.2%
2013 8.7 days +13.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 8.7 days is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.5 days, 2.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 8.7 days is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.65 days, 2.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.71 days 7.9 days 10.1 days 8
2010s 8.3 days 7.7 days 8.7 days 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 18 Vanuatu 9.2 days compare
  2. 19 Reunion 9 days compare
  3. 20 Saint Lucia 8.9 days compare
  4. 22 El Salvador 8.5 days compare
  5. 22 Niue 8.5 days compare
  6. 24 Uganda 8.3 days

See the full ranking of 152 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is average length of stay of international visitors in South Africa?
Average length of stay of international visitors in South Africa was 8.7 days in 2013, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest average length of stay of international visitors recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 10.1 days in 2002.
What is the lowest average length of stay of international visitors recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 7.7 days in 2012.
How does South Africa rank for average length of stay of international visitors?
South Africa ranks 21st out of 152 countries with data for 2013.
Is average length of stay of international visitors rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Average length of stay of international visitors. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average length of stay of international visitors in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/average-length-of-stay/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Average length of stay of international visitors
Unit
days
Source
UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
152 places, 2,911 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

Average number of days tourists stay in hotels and similar accommodation establishments.