International tourist trips in South Africa
South Africa: International tourist trips was 8.92 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
International tourist trips in South Africa, 1995–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international tourist trips in South Africa is 8.92 million, 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, international tourist trips in South Africa peaked at 10.47 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.26 million, 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.
International tourist trips in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 4.49 million | — |
| 1996 | 4.92 million | +9.5% |
| 1997 | 4.98 million | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 5.73 million | +15.2% |
| 1999 | 5.89 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 5.87 million | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 5.79 million | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 6.43 million | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 6.50 million | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 6.68 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 7.37 million | +10.3% |
| 2006 | 8.40 million | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 9.09 million | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 9.59 million | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 7.01 million | -26.9% |
| 2010 | 8.07 million | +15.1% |
| 2011 | 8.34 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 9.19 million | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 9.54 million | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 9.55 million | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 8.90 million | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 10.04 million | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 10.29 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 10.47 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 10.23 million | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 2.80 million | -72.6% |
| 2021 | 2.26 million | -19.5% |
| 2022 | 5.70 million | +152.6% |
| 2023 | 8.48 million | +48.9% |
| 2024 | 8.92 million | +5.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.92 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.49 million, 6.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.92 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 393,000, 22.7× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where International tourist 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 | +152.6% | 2.26 million | 5.70 million |
| 2020 | -72.6% | 10.23 million | 2.80 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.20 million | 4.49 million | 5.89 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 7.27 million | 5.79 million | 9.59 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.46 million | 8.07 million | 10.47 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.63 million | 2.26 million | 8.92 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 34 India 9.82 million compare
- 35 Belgium 9.64 million compare
- 36 Switzerland 9.16 million compare
- 38 Dominican Republic 8.54 million compare
- 39 China 7.97 million compare
- 40 Uzbekistan 7.96 million 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 tourist trips in South Africa?
- International tourist trips in South Africa was 8.92 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest international tourist trips recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.47 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest international tourist trips recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.26 million in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for international tourist trips?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is international tourist trips 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 Our World in Data, published as part of International tourist trips. 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).