26 June 2026

Migration continues to shape South Africa’s population landscape, says Statistician-General

South Africa’s migration patterns continue to reshape the country’s demographic and economic landscape, with Gauteng and the Western Cape remaining the leading destinations for both internal and international migrants.

This was highlighted by Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke, during the South Africa National Migration Symposium (SAN-MIS) held at the University of the Witwatersrand on Friday.

The symposium, convened by the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation in partnership with the Wits School of Governance and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and international partners to discuss migration trends and their implications for social cohesion and development.

Migration refers to the movement of people from one place of usual residence to another, either within a country or across international borders, for a temporary or permanent period.

Understanding these movements is essential for planning public services, infrastructure, housing, education and employment opportunities.

According to the 2022 Census, there were more than 2.4 million international migrants, which equates to just below 4% of the total population. Stats SA data further show that migration to South Africa remains strongly linked to regional mobility within Southern Africa. Since 1996, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have consistently been the leading countries of origin for migrants entering South Africa, with most international migrants coming from countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Drawing on Statistics South Africa’s latest Mid-year Population Estimates, Maluleke said migration remains an important component of population change alongside births and deaths.

“Our data show that migration continues to influence population distribution across provinces. Gauteng, the Western Cape, North-West, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal are gaining population, while the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State are experiencing net population losses,” said Maluleke.

According to Stats SA estimates, Gauteng is expected to experience the largest inflow of migrants between 2021 and 2026, with approximately 1,4 million people moving into the province during the period. The province also remains the preferred destination for international migrants entering South Africa.

The Western Cape is projected to receive the second-highest inflow of migrants, with an estimated 500 347 people expected to move into the province between 2021 and 2026.

“The opportunities for employment, study and an improved quality of life play an important role among the push-pull factors resulting in the high flow of migrants to the Western Cape,” said Maluleke.

Maluleke emphasised the importance of evidence-based discussions on migration, noting that reliable statistics help policymakers understand migration dynamics and develop informed responses that support social cohesion, economic development and effective service delivery.

“Statistics enable us to move beyond perceptions and anecdotal evidence. They provide a factual basis for understanding migration trends and their impact on society, ensuring that policy interventions are informed by evidence,” he said.

The annual SAN-MIS platform seeks to promote informed public discourse, strengthen social cohesion and generate practical policy recommendations that support safe, regular and humane migration while addressing the challenges associated with irregular migration.

Ends//

Issued by

Statistics South Africa

For media enquiries, contact: Felicia Sithole: Cell: 0764300693 Email: felicias@statssa.gov.za

Sivuyile Mangxamba Cell: 0828882372: Email: SivuyileMA@statssa.gov.za

Follow us on social media: Facebook: Stats SA; X: @StatsSA; LinkedIn: Statistics South Africa; YouTube: TheStatisticsSA