In 2020, South Africa hosted approximately 2.86 million international migrants. The vast majority were from Zimbabwe, amounting to roughly 690 thousand people. The neighboring country Mozambique was the origin of around 350 thousand migrants, while 192 thousand held Lesotho's nationality, which is an enclave within South Africa.
Stock of international migrants in South Africa in 2020, by country of origin
* Year given refers to July 1.
Data are estimates based on official statistics on the foreign-born or the foreign population.
Countries that have less than 20,000 international migrants residing in South Africa were excluded.
The source defines an international migrant as “any person who changes his or her country of usual residence”.
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UN DESA. (December 30, 2020). Stock of international migrants in South Africa in 2020, by country of origin [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 26, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1238915/stock-of-international-migrants-in-south-africa-by-country-of-origin/
UN DESA. "Stock of international migrants in South Africa in 2020, by country of origin." Chart. December 30, 2020. Statista. Accessed December 26, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1238915/stock-of-international-migrants-in-south-africa-by-country-of-origin/
UN DESA. (2020). Stock of international migrants in South Africa in 2020, by country of origin. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 26, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1238915/stock-of-international-migrants-in-south-africa-by-country-of-origin/
UN DESA. "Stock of International Migrants in South Africa in 2020, by Country of Origin." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Dec 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1238915/stock-of-international-migrants-in-south-africa-by-country-of-origin/
UN DESA, Stock of international migrants in South Africa in 2020, by country of origin Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1238915/stock-of-international-migrants-in-south-africa-by-country-of-origin/ (last visited December 26, 2024)
Stock of international migrants in South Africa in 2020, by country of origin [Graph], UN DESA, December 30, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1238915/stock-of-international-migrants-in-south-africa-by-country-of-origin/