International tourism, receipts in South Africa
South Africa: International tourism, receipts was 2.72 billion current US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
International tourism, receipts in South Africa, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.72 billion current US$ for international tourism, receipts in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 70.0% on the previous year and down 73.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, receipts in South Africa peaked at 11.20 billion current US$ in 2012 and was at its lowest, 2.65 billion current US$, in 1995.
That places South Africa 46th out of 195 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
International tourism, receipts in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2.65 billion current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 3.14 billion current US$ | +18.2% |
| 1997 | 3.42 billion current US$ | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 3.42 billion current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 3.41 billion current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 3.34 billion current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 3.26 billion current US$ | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 3.69 billion current US$ | +13.5% |
| 2003 | 6.67 billion current US$ | +80.6% |
| 2004 | 7.57 billion current US$ | +13.4% |
| 2005 | 8.63 billion current US$ | +14.0% |
| 2006 | 9.21 billion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 10.23 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 9.18 billion current US$ | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 8.68 billion current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 10.31 billion current US$ | +18.7% |
| 2011 | 10.71 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 11.20 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 10.47 billion current US$ | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 10.48 billion current US$ | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 9.14 billion current US$ | -12.8% |
| 2016 | 8.81 billion current US$ | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 9.71 billion current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2018 | 9.79 billion current US$ | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 9.06 billion current US$ | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 2.72 billion current US$ | -70.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.21 billion current US$ | 2.65 billion current US$ | 3.42 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 7.05 billion current US$ | 3.26 billion current US$ | 10.23 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.97 billion current US$ | 8.81 billion current US$ | 11.20 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.72 billion current US$ | 2.72 billion current US$ | 2.72 billion current US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 43 Brazil 3.10 billion current US$ compare
- 44 Puerto Rico 2.92 billion current US$ compare
- 45 Philippines 2.77 billion current US$ compare
- 47 Israel 2.66 billion current US$ compare
- 48 Tanzania, United Republic of 2.62 billion current US$ compare
- 49 Myanmar 2.50 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for South Africa
- Merchandise trade 57.2% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 128.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 38.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 116.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,798 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2725 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, receipts in South Africa?
- International tourism, receipts in South Africa was 2.72 billion current US$ in 2020, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, receipts recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.20 billion current US$ in 2012.
- What is the lowest international tourism, receipts recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.65 billion current US$ in 1995.
- How does South Africa rank for international tourism, receipts?
- South Africa ranks 46th out of 195 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, receipts rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 73.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, receipts (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.