Migrant remittance inflows (current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: Migrant remittance inflows (current US$) was 1.21 billion current US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
1.21 billion current US$
Change on year
up 8.3%
World rank
8th
of 50 countries
All-time high
1.21 billion current US$
in 2011
All-time low
15.38 million current US$
in 1971
Years of data
42
1970–2011
Migrant remittance inflows in South Africa, 1970–2011
Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook 2008. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.21 billion current US$ for migrant remittance inflows in 2011. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
The figure is up 8.3% on the previous year and up 307.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, migrant remittance inflows in South Africa peaked at 1.21 billion current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 15.38 million current US$, in 1971.
South Africa ranks 8th of 50 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Migrant remittance inflows (current US$) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 15.40 million current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 15.38 million current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 16.87 million current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1973 | 15.88 million current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1974 | 26.41 million current US$ | +66.3% |
| 1975 | 35.62 million current US$ | +34.9% |
| 1976 | 28.75 million current US$ | -19.3% |
| 1977 | 28.75 million current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 43.70 million current US$ | +52.0% |
| 1979 | 51.12 million current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1980 | 67.10 million current US$ | +31.2% |
| 1981 | 86.86 million current US$ | +29.5% |
| 1982 | 80.45 million current US$ | -7.4% |
| 1983 | 73.58 million current US$ | -8.5% |
| 1984 | 64.80 million current US$ | -11.9% |
| 1985 | 38.71 million current US$ | -40.3% |
| 1986 | 35.51 million current US$ | -8.3% |
| 1987 | 45.23 million current US$ | +27.4% |
| 1988 | 49.70 million current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1989 | 88.55 million current US$ | +78.2% |
| 1990 | 135.59 million current US$ | +53.1% |
| 1991 | 129.11 million current US$ | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 119.28 million current US$ | -7.6% |
| 1993 | 101.70 million current US$ | -14.7% |
| 1994 | 98.77 million current US$ | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 105.32 million current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 101.94 million current US$ | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 205.89 million current US$ | +102.0% |
| 1998 | 282.99 million current US$ | +37.4% |
| 1999 | 327.32 million current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2000 | 343.71 million current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 297.39 million current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2002 | 288.38 million current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 434.37 million current US$ | +50.6% |
| 2004 | 522.84 million current US$ | +20.4% |
| 2005 | 657.98 million current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2006 | 734.12 million current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2007 | 833.55 million current US$ | +13.5% |
| 2008 | 822.79 million current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 902.26 million current US$ | +9.7% |
| 2010 | 1.12 billion current US$ | +24.1% |
| 2011 | 1.21 billion current US$ | +8.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.21 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 177.85 million current US$, 6.8× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.21 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.49 million current US$, 14.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.79 million current US$ | 15.38 million current US$ | 51.12 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.05 million current US$ | 35.51 million current US$ | 88.55 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 160.79 million current US$ | 98.77 million current US$ | 327.32 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 583.74 million current US$ | 288.38 million current US$ | 902.26 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.17 billion current US$ | 1.12 billion current US$ | 1.21 billion current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More trade data for South Africa
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 109.35 (2025)
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 100.81 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 99.79 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 95.89 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 98.98 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 77.42 (2025)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, Percent of GDP 1.03 (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 64.23 units per person (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 0.0102 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Exports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), gaps 1.75 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is migrant remittance inflows in South Africa?
- Migrant remittance inflows in South Africa was 1.21 billion current US$ in 2011, according to World Bank staff estimates based on the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook 2008.
- What is the highest migrant remittance inflows recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.21 billion current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest migrant remittance inflows recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.38 million current US$ in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for migrant remittance inflows?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 50 countries with data for 2011.
- Is migrant remittance inflows rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 307.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank staff estimates based on the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook 2008, published as part of Migrant remittance inflows (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Migrants’ remittances are defined as the sum of worker’s remittances,