International one-day trips in South Africa
South Africa: International one-day trips was 2.50 million arrivals in 2024. ▼ Falling
International one-day trips in South Africa, 2009–2024
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in arrivals.
Analysis
In 2024, international one-day trips in South Africa stood at 2.50 million arrivals.
The figure is down 11.2% on the previous year and down 49.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international one-day trips in South Africa peaked at 5.08 million arrivals in 2016 and was at its lowest, 408,000 arrivals, in 2021.
That places South Africa 25th out of 136 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
International one-day trips in South Africa, year by year
| Year | arrivals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2.52 million arrivals | — |
| 2010 | 3.23 million arrivals | +28.1% |
| 2011 | 3.76 million arrivals | +16.4% |
| 2012 | 3.88 million arrivals | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 4.78 million arrivals | +23.2% |
| 2014 | 4.98 million arrivals | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 5.05 million arrivals | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 5.08 million arrivals | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 4.69 million arrivals | -7.6% |
| 2018 | 4.53 million arrivals | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 4.57 million arrivals | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 1.08 million arrivals | -76.3% |
| 2021 | 408,000 arrivals | -62.4% |
| 2022 | 1.64 million arrivals | +302.9% |
| 2023 | 2.82 million arrivals | +71.5% |
| 2024 | 2.50 million arrivals | -11.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.50 million arrivals is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 215,500 arrivals, 11.6× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.50 million arrivals is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30,000 arrivals, 83.4× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where International one-day trips 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +302.9% | 408,000 arrivals | 1.64 million arrivals |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.52 million arrivals | 2.52 million arrivals | 2.52 million arrivals | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.45 million arrivals | 3.23 million arrivals | 5.08 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.69 million arrivals | 408,000 arrivals | 2.82 million arrivals | 5 |
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 international one-day trips in South Africa?
- International one-day trips in South Africa was 2.50 million arrivals in 2024, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest international one-day trips recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.08 million arrivals in 2016.
- What is the lowest international one-day trips recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 408,000 arrivals in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for international one-day trips?
- South Africa ranks 25th out of 136 countries with data for 2024.
- Is international one-day trips rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.7%. 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 International one-day trips. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of trips by visitors who arrive from abroad and depart within the same day.