Arrivals of tourists from abroad in South Africa
South Africa: Arrivals of tourists from abroad was 8.92 million arrivals in 2024. ▲ Rising
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in South Africa, 1995–2024
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in arrivals.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arrivals of tourists from abroad in South Africa is 8.92 million arrivals, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 5.1% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad in South Africa peaked at 10.47 million arrivals in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.26 million arrivals, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 37th of 203 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in South Africa, year by year
| Year | arrivals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 4.49 million arrivals | — |
| 1996 | 4.92 million arrivals | +9.5% |
| 1997 | 4.98 million arrivals | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 5.73 million arrivals | +15.2% |
| 1999 | 5.89 million arrivals | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 5.87 million arrivals | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 5.79 million arrivals | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 6.43 million arrivals | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 6.50 million arrivals | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 6.68 million arrivals | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 7.37 million arrivals | +10.3% |
| 2006 | 8.40 million arrivals | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 9.09 million arrivals | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 9.59 million arrivals | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 7.01 million arrivals | -26.9% |
| 2010 | 8.07 million arrivals | +15.1% |
| 2011 | 8.34 million arrivals | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 9.19 million arrivals | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 9.54 million arrivals | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 9.55 million arrivals | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 8.90 million arrivals | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 10.04 million arrivals | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 10.29 million arrivals | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 10.47 million arrivals | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 10.23 million arrivals | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 2.80 million arrivals | -72.6% |
| 2021 | 2.26 million arrivals | -19.5% |
| 2022 | 5.70 million arrivals | +152.6% |
| 2023 | 8.48 million arrivals | +48.9% |
| 2024 | 8.92 million arrivals | +5.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.92 million arrivals is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.49 million arrivals, 6.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.92 million arrivals is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 393,000 arrivals, 22.7× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad 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 | +152.6% | 2.26 million arrivals | 5.70 million arrivals |
| 2020 | -72.6% | 10.23 million arrivals | 2.80 million arrivals |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.20 million arrivals | 4.49 million arrivals | 5.89 million arrivals | 5 |
| 2000s | 7.27 million arrivals | 5.79 million arrivals | 9.59 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.46 million arrivals | 8.07 million arrivals | 10.47 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.63 million arrivals | 2.26 million arrivals | 8.92 million arrivals | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 34 India 9.82 million arrivals compare
- 35 Belgium 9.64 million arrivals compare
- 36 Switzerland 9.16 million arrivals compare
- 38 Dominican Republic 8.54 million arrivals compare
- 39 China 7.97 million arrivals compare
- 40 Uzbekistan 7.96 million arrivals 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 in South Africa?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad in South Africa was 8.92 million arrivals in 2024, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.47 million arrivals in 2018.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.26 million arrivals in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. 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 Arrivals of tourists from abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 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 stay overnight.