International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in South Africa
South Africa: International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons was 8.64 million trips in 2024. ▲ Rising
International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in South Africa, 1995–2024
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in trips.
Analysis
In 2024, international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in South Africa stood at 8.64 million trips.
That represents a change of up 5.6% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in South Africa peaked at 10.16 million trips in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.06 million trips, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 27th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in South Africa, year by year
| Year | trips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3.84 million trips | — |
| 1996 | 4.25 million trips | +10.8% |
| 1997 | 4.33 million trips | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 5.00 million trips | +15.6% |
| 1999 | 5.26 million trips | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 5.24 million trips | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 5.23 million trips | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 5.89 million trips | +12.6% |
| 2003 | 6.10 million trips | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 6.32 million trips | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 7.03 million trips | +11.4% |
| 2006 | 8.07 million trips | +14.8% |
| 2007 | 8.78 million trips | +8.8% |
| 2008 | 9.30 million trips | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 6.82 million trips | -26.7% |
| 2010 | 7.74 million trips | +13.6% |
| 2011 | 8.07 million trips | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 8.89 million trips | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 9.27 million trips | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 9.14 million trips | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 8.50 million trips | -7.0% |
| 2016 | 9.71 million trips | +14.2% |
| 2017 | 9.95 million trips | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 10.16 million trips | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 9.95 million trips | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 2.69 million trips | -73.0% |
| 2021 | 2.06 million trips | -23.4% |
| 2022 | 5.43 million trips | +163.6% |
| 2023 | 8.19 million trips | +50.6% |
| 2024 | 8.64 million trips | +5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.54 million trips | 3.84 million trips | 5.26 million trips | 5 |
| 2000s | 6.88 million trips | 5.23 million trips | 9.30 million trips | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.14 million trips | 7.74 million trips | 10.16 million trips | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.40 million trips | 2.06 million trips | 8.64 million trips | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 24 United Arab Emirates 9.04 million trips compare
- 25 Syrian Arab Republic 9.02 million trips compare
- 26 India 8.79 million trips compare
- 28 Dominican Republic 8.18 million trips compare
- 29 United States of America 8.05 million trips compare
- 30 Albania 7.44 million trips 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 international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in South Africa?
- International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in South Africa was 8.64 million trips in 2024, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.16 million trips in 2018.
- What is the lowest international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.06 million trips in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of international trips where the main purpose is personal (leisure, visiting friends and relatives, health, etc.) and the visitor stays overnight.