01.01.06. Migration | South Africa
01.01.06. Migration | South Africa
12 Aug 2022
Estimated migration from 2016-2021 is presented below (StatsSA, 2018d):
Table 4: Estimated provincial streams 2016–2021
Province |
Out- migrants |
In- migrants |
Net migration |
|
Eastern Cape | 516 264 | 192 412 | -323 851 | |
Free State | 163 408 | 147 666 | -15 742 | |
Gauteng | 548 456 | 1 596 896 | 1 048 440 | |
KwaZulu-Natal | 366 150 | 307 547 | -58 602 | |
Limpopo | 412 269 | 279 755 | -132 513 | |
Mpumalanga | 212 116 | 286 154 | 74 038 | |
Northern Cape | 76 512 | 83 000 | 6 489 | |
North West | 210 096 | 317 830 | 107 733 | |
Western Cape | 175 613 | 486 617 | 311 004 |
Source: Adapted from: (StatsSA, 2018d). Mid-year population estimates (table 9), p.15.
The Gauteng and Western Cape provinces receive the highest number of people in-migrating, and this is most likely due to these two provinces being the economic hubs of the country. Thus, people migrate to these provinces for employment (migrating out of provinces with less economic opportunity such as the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal). Gauteng is the smallest province (in area) and yet the highest populated in the country (see population density under Part 1) explaining the high in- and out-flow of people migrating in the country (StatsSA, 2018d).
The migration outside of South Africa for each of the 9 provinces are tabled below:
Table 5: Migration outside of South Africa by province
Province |
EC | FS | GP | KZN | LIM | MP | NC | NW | WC |
Total |
38 322 | 32 263 | 483 561 | 75 886 | 110 440 | 72 988 | 7 461 | 78 267 | 117 805 |
Source: Adapted from: (StatsSA, 2018d). Mid-year population estimates (table 9), p.15.
References:
StatsSA. (2018d). Quarterly Labour Force Survey. Available from: https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=11882