{"version":1,"asset_type":"statistical_series","data_type":"time_series","slug":"za-net-migration-absolute","url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/za-net-migration-absolute","html_url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/za-net-migration-absolute/","title":"South Africa Net Migration (2025)","description":"South Africa's Net Migration: 146,370 persons (net inflows) in 2025, -20,602 YoY. World Bank (SM.POP.NETM), 1976–2025.","domain":"demo","category":"Demographics","keywords":["Demographics","World Bank","South Africa","2025"],"publisher":"World Bank","frequency":"Annual","geography":"South Africa","temporal_coverage":"1976/2025","unit":"persons (net inflows)","last_updated":"2026-07-25","last_updated_text":"25 July 2026","data_as_of":"2025","variable_measured":"South Africa Net Migration","license":"https://apiardata.com/data-license","is_accessible_for_free":true,"sources":[{"name":"World Bank","url":"https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM?locations=ZA"}],"meta":[{"label":"Frequency","value":"Annual"},{"label":"Coverage","value":"1976–2025"},{"label":"Observations","value":"50"},{"label":"Geography","value":"South Africa"},{"label":"Last updated","value":"25 July 2026"}],"kpis":[{"label":"South Africa (2025)","value":"146,370","unit":"persons (net inflows)","trend":{"direction":"down","value":"-20,602 YoY"}},{"label":"YoY Change","value":"-20,602","unit":"persons (net inflows)"},{"label":"Trend","value":"down","unit":""},{"label":"Series length","value":"50","unit":"years of data"}],"series":[{"key":"value","label":"South Africa Net Migration"}],"observation_count":50,"observations":[{"period":"1976","value":27333},{"period":"1977","value":63739},{"period":"1978","value":62121},{"period":"1979","value":56323},{"period":"1980","value":258127},{"period":"1981","value":279985},{"period":"1982","value":293195},{"period":"1983","value":310172},{"period":"1984","value":290789},{"period":"1985","value":244940},{"period":"1986","value":234378},{"period":"1987","value":231009},{"period":"1988","value":246382},{"period":"1989","value":255605},{"period":"1990","value":259718},{"period":"1991","value":-39131},{"period":"1992","value":-71342},{"period":"1993","value":194977},{"period":"1994","value":-268849},{"period":"1995","value":-98403},{"period":"1996","value":-193007},{"period":"1997","value":-98181},{"period":"1998","value":-82722},{"period":"1999","value":-126011},{"period":"2000","value":-136794},{"period":"2001","value":-60793},{"period":"2002","value":50313},{"period":"2003","value":65604},{"period":"2004","value":58924},{"period":"2005","value":31286},{"period":"2006","value":33159},{"period":"2007","value":36339},{"period":"2008","value":36869},{"period":"2009","value":41528},{"period":"2010","value":68563},{"period":"2011","value":65166},{"period":"2012","value":264091},{"period":"2013","value":232230},{"period":"2014","value":272697},{"period":"2015","value":641150},{"period":"2016","value":-879235},{"period":"2017","value":343146},{"period":"2018","value":318260},{"period":"2019","value":331124},{"period":"2020","value":369901},{"period":"2021","value":458246},{"period":"2022","value":233284},{"period":"2023","value":228222},{"period":"2024","value":166972},{"period":"2025","value":146370}],"table":{"columns":[{"key":"year","label":"Year"},{"key":"value","label":"persons (net inflows)"},{"key":"yoyChange","label":"YoY Change"}],"rows":[{"year":"2025","value":"146370.0","yoyChange":"-20602"},{"year":"2024","value":"166972.0","yoyChange":"-61250"},{"year":"2023","value":"228222.0","yoyChange":"-5062"},{"year":"2022","value":"233284.0","yoyChange":"-224962"},{"year":"2021","value":"458246.0","yoyChange":"+88345"},{"year":"2020","value":"369901.0","yoyChange":"+38777"},{"year":"2019","value":"331124.0","yoyChange":"+12864"},{"year":"2018","value":"318260.0","yoyChange":"-24886"},{"year":"2017","value":"343146.0","yoyChange":"+1222381"},{"year":"2016","value":"-879235.0","yoyChange":"-1520385"},{"year":"2015","value":"641150.0","yoyChange":"+368453"},{"year":"2014","value":"272697.0","yoyChange":"+40467"},{"year":"2013","value":"232230.0","yoyChange":"-31861"},{"year":"2012","value":"264091.0","yoyChange":"+198925"},{"year":"2011","value":"65166.0","yoyChange":"-3397"},{"year":"2010","value":"68563.0","yoyChange":"+27035"},{"year":"2009","value":"41528.0","yoyChange":"+4659"},{"year":"2008","value":"36869.0","yoyChange":"+530.0"},{"year":"2007","value":"36339.0","yoyChange":"+3180"},{"year":"2006","value":"33159.0","yoyChange":"+1873.0"}]},"qa":[{"question":"What does this indicator measure?","answer":"This page tracks net migration (immigrants minus emigrants) in South Africa from 1990 to present. Positive values indicate net inflow. It is published by World Bank and updated annually."},{"question":"How current is this data?","answer":"The most recent observation covers 2025. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1976–2025 (50 observations)."},{"question":"What is the long-term trend?","answer":"The series peaked at 641,150 persons (net inflows) in 2015 and reached its lowest recorded value of -879,235 in 2016. The latest reading of 146,370 in 2025 represents a change of -20,602."}]}