International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Africa
South Africa: International tourism, receipts for travel items was 2.61 billion current US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Africa, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2020, international tourism, receipts for travel items in South Africa stood at 2.61 billion current US$.
The figure is down 68.9% on the previous year and down 71.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, receipts for travel items in South Africa peaked at 10.00 billion current US$ in 2012 and was at its lowest, 2.13 billion current US$, in 1995.
South Africa ranks 43rd of 191 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2.13 billion current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 2.62 billion current US$ | +23.0% |
| 1997 | 2.85 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1998 | 2.85 billion current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 2.80 billion current US$ | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 2.68 billion current US$ | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 2.57 billion current US$ | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 2.92 billion current US$ | +13.8% |
| 2003 | 5.71 billion current US$ | +95.4% |
| 2004 | 6.51 billion current US$ | +14.0% |
| 2005 | 7.52 billion current US$ | +15.4% |
| 2006 | 8.12 billion current US$ | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 8.78 billion current US$ | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 7.96 billion current US$ | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 7.62 billion current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 9.09 billion current US$ | +19.2% |
| 2011 | 9.52 billion current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 10.00 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 9.24 billion current US$ | -7.5% |
| 2014 | 9.34 billion current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 8.26 billion current US$ | -11.6% |
| 2016 | 7.92 billion current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 8.82 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2018 | 8.99 billion current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 8.39 billion current US$ | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 2.61 billion current US$ | -68.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.65 billion current US$ | 2.13 billion current US$ | 2.85 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 6.04 billion current US$ | 2.57 billion current US$ | 8.78 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.96 billion current US$ | 7.92 billion current US$ | 10.00 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.61 billion current US$ | 2.61 billion current US$ | 2.61 billion current US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 40 Russian Federation 2.85 billion current US$ compare
- 41 Hong Kong, China 2.84 billion current US$ compare
- 42 Dominican Republic 2.67 billion current US$ compare
- 44 Tanzania, United Republic of 2.60 billion current US$ compare
- 45 Israel 2.50 billion current US$ compare
- 46 Myanmar 2.48 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$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, receipts for travel items in South Africa?
- International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Africa was 2.61 billion current US$ in 2020, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, receipts for travel items recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.00 billion current US$ in 2012.
- What is the lowest international tourism, receipts for travel items recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.13 billion current US$ in 1995.
- How does South Africa rank for international tourism, receipts for travel items?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 191 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, receipts for travel items rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.3%. 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 for travel items (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism receipts for travel items are expenditures by international inbound visitors in the reporting economy. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These receipts should include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.