Migrant remittance inflows in South Africa
South Africa: Migrant remittance inflows was 0.3% in 2011. ◆ Volatile
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, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2011, migrant remittance inflows in South Africa stood at 0.3%.
That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and up 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, migrant remittance inflows in South Africa peaked at 0.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1988.
That places South Africa 40th out of 50 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Migrant remittance inflows in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1% | — |
| 1971 | 0.1% | -9.5% |
| 1972 | 0.1% | +4.5% |
| 1973 | 0.1% | -31.3% |
| 1974 | 0.1% | +32.4% |
| 1975 | 0.1% | +30.5% |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -15.9% |
| 1977 | 0.1% | -10.0% |
| 1978 | 0.1% | +32.1% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | -8.9% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | +20.1% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -14.8% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -11.1% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | -24.1% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -22.6% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -2.7% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | +63.5% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | +70.8% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | -11.3% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -14.9% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | -14.7% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | +95.1% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +52.3% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +16.6% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +11.6% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 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 0.3% in 2011, according to World Bank staff estimates based on the International Monetary Fund's Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook 2008, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates.
- What is the highest migrant remittance inflows recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 2009.
- What is the lowest migrant remittance inflows recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1988.
- How does South Africa rank for migrant remittance inflows?
- South Africa ranks 40th 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 18.3%. 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, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates, published as part of Migrant remittance inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Migrants’ remittances are defined as the sum of worker’s remittances,