South Africa Tourist Arrivals
International inbound tourist arrivals.
Tourist Arrivals in South Africa decreased to 3.89 million in 2020 from 14.80 million in 2019.
South Africa Tourist Arrivals — History
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South Africa Tourist Arrivals — analysis in simple words
Latest reading
Tourist Arrivals in South Africa decreased to 3.89 million in 2020 from 14.80 million in 2019.
Over the last three years it rose once and fell twice.
Recent trend
A year earlier (2019) it was 14.80M, so the latest figure is 10.91M lower.
Over the past five years the average was 12.76M, with a range from 3.89M to 15.12M. The latest value is below that five-year average.
Historical context
This data series starts in 1995 and has 26 annual observations. The latest reading is higher than 0% of all of them.
The highest value on record is 15.12M (2016) and the lowest is 3.89M (2020). The long-run average is 9.48M.
Compared with other countries
Among 179 economies with recent data, South Africa ranks 43rd from the top. The median across all these economies is 1.08M, so South Africa is above the typical country.
Among 19 major economies tracked on this site it ranks 16th.
Within Sub-Saharan Africa (30 economies with data) it ranks 1st; the regional median is 0.33M.
Statistics
- Latest
- 3.89M2020
- Previous
- 14.80M
- 5-year average
- 12.76M
- Long-run average
- 9.48Msince 1995
- All-time high
- 15.12M2016
- All-time low
- 3.89M2020
- Observations
- 26Annual
Recent Data
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.89M | ▼ −10.91 |
| 2019 | 14.80M | ▼ −0.21 |
| 2018 | 15.00M | ▲ +0.03 |
| 2017 | 14.98M | ▼ −0.15 |
| 2016 | 15.12M | ▲ +1.17 |
| 2015 | 13.95M | ▼ −0.58 |
| 2014 | 14.53M | ▲ +0.21 |
| 2013 | 14.32M | ▲ +1.25 |
| 2012 | 13.07M | ▲ +0.97 |
| 2011 | 12.10M | ▲ +0.79 |
| 2010 | 11.30M | ▲ +1.77 |
| 2009 | 9.53M | ▼ −0.20 |
| 2008 | 9.73M | ▲ +0.52 |
| 2007 | 9.21M | ▲ +0.70 |
| 2006 | 8.51M | ▲ +0.99 |
| 2005 | 7.52M | ▲ +0.70 |
| 2004 | 6.82M | ▲ +0.18 |
| 2003 | 6.64M | ▲ +0.09 |
| 2002 | 6.55M | ▲ +0.64 |
| 2001 | 5.91M | ▼ −0.09 |
| 2000 | 6.00M | ▼ −0.03 |
| 1999 | 6.03M | ▲ +0.13 |
| 1998 | 5.90M | ▲ +0.73 |
| 1997 | 5.17M | ▼ −0.02 |
| 1996 | 5.19M | ▲ +0.50 |
| 1995 | 4.68M |
Tourist Arrivals — South Africa vs Peers
Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). South Africa highlighted.
More South Africa indicators
Understanding Tourist Arrivals — a simple guide
What it measures
International inbound tourist arrivals.
How it is calculated
Number of international visitors arriving in the year.
10 million arrivals means one crore foreign visitors.
More arrivals support hotels, airlines and foreign exchange.
Fewer arrivals reduce tourism income.
Why it matters for the economy and markets
Tourism is a significant source of foreign exchange and employment for many economies.
How to read it
Data were heavily distorted in 2020–2021 by pandemic travel restrictions.
Data source
World Bank — World Development Indicators (series ST.INT.ARVL), annual data from 1995 to 2020. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.
How to use the chart
Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current tourist arrivals of South Africa?
What is the highest and lowest tourist arrivals of South Africa?
What does tourist arrivals measure?
Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.