A Stats SA survey reveals that immigrants account for 5.1% of South Africa's population.
Image: IOL Graphic
Immigrants account for 5.1% of South Africa’s total population, according to the latest migration report released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
The issue of immigration, specifically illegal immigrants has been in focus over the past year with various organisations challenging the presence of illegal immigrants in the country. A Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection was recently published for public comment.
The Stats SA findings are based on the 2022/2023 Income and Expenditure Survey (IES), which analysed international and internal migration trends, as well as household income and spending patterns.
Out of a population of 61.1 million people, about 3.09 million are immigrants, while 94.9% are South African-born. The survey findings did not deal with the legal status of the immigrants in the country.
In the report’s preface, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke said the publication focuses on “international and internal migration dynamics, as well as on the analysis of household consumption expenditure and income disaggregated by migratory status at national, provincial, and metropolitan levels.”
The report shows immigrants are predominantly male (56.2%), compared to 43.8% female. Among the South African-born population, women make up the majority at 51.5%.
Most immigrants are of working age, with the largest group aged between 35 and 39. The average age at migration is between 25 and 26 years.
The majority (83.8%) of immigrants are Black African, and 42.1% are legally married, compared to 22% of the South African-born population.
Nearly two-thirds (63.6%) of immigrants come from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Gauteng hosts more than half of the immigrant population (51.2%), followed by the Western Cape at 13.3%.
At metro level, 27% of immigrants live in the City of Johannesburg, 12% in Ekurhuleni, and 9.2% in Cape Town.
Internal migration remains significant, with 9.1 million people having moved across provincial borders at some point. Gauteng recorded the highest net gain among recent movers, with 210,803 more people moving in than out.
Employment remains the primary reason for moving, with 44.8% citing economic opportunities.
Among children aged 5 to 18, 23.4% of immigrant children had not attended any educational institution, compared to 5.3% of South African-born children.
However, 16.7% of immigrants reported post-school qualifications, compared to 9.9% of the SA-born population.
On health, 55.9% of immigrants aged 15 and above rated their health as “good”, while 30.4% described it as “excellent”.
Most respondents reported having access to healthcare services, with public clinics being the most commonly used facilities.
South Africa has 21.3 million households. Of these, 14 million are headed by non-migrants, 5.2 million by internal migrants, and 2.1 million by immigrants.
The average household income nationally is R199,656 per year.
Households headed by internal migrants recorded the highest average income at R253,837. Immigrant-headed households reported an average income of R208,012, while households headed by non-migrants recorded R178,144.
Average annual household expenditure stands at R138,905. Internal migrant households reported the highest spending levels, followed by immigrant-headed households.
The largest portion of household spending nationally goes to housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages.
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