StatsSA report on migration – most are not coming back
SHARE POST:
South Africa has seen a significant number of its citizens emigrate over the past two decades, with over 400,000 people leaving the country. However, only a fraction of them have returned, according to Stats SA’s Migration Profile Report.
Since 2000, approximately 413,000 South Africans have emigrated to other countries, with just under 28,000 returning in 2022. This trend has been largely anecdotal, as official data on emigration and return migration has been scarce.
External analytics and data from other countries suggest that many of those leaving South Africa are wealthier, skilled individuals. The number of South Africans living abroad has steadily increased, reaching 914,901 in 2020.
The United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and Canada are the most popular destinations for South African emigrants. Notably, around 4,250 South Africans have left as refugees, with a significant number seeking asylum in the United States
While there is some talk of ‘reverse emigration,’ where South Africans return home after living abroad, Stats SA’s data shows a different picture. The number of South Africans returning has not significantly increased, with only 27,983 returning in 2022 compared to 45,860 in 2011.
The Gauteng, KZN and the Eastern Cape remained the biggest points of departure for emigrants, and Gauteng and the Western Cape the biggest points of return for re-migrants, reflecting the relative attractiveness of the Western Cape over the rest of the country, and Gauteng’s continued economic dominance.
Despite serious concerns about the ongoing brain drain, Stats SA suggests that has marginally benefited from skilled migration from African countries, which has risen in recent years, and managed to fill some gaps in the labor market and contribute to economic growth.
The report also notes that immigrants to South Africa are no longer bothering to register as asylum seekers, likely due to the absence of enforcement of immigration rules, which make it easier to simply immigrate without filling out paperwork, fitting into local immigrant communities rather than integrating.
This combination of unregulated influx with the constant draining of skilled workers, implies a rapid skewing of the economy and demographics toward a bottom-heavy model with insufficient brainpower to sustain growth in the long term.
Independent news and opinion from the Cape of Good Hope for readers who value good old common sense. We focus on what really matters in South Africa.
Interested in joining the movement? Find ways to get involved
GET NOTIFIED FOR NEW CONTENT
read more
AfriForum approaches court to revise Graaff-Reinet’s name change
The decision of Minister Gayton McKenzie to rename Graaff-Reinet has proven highly unpopular, and has failed to meet consultation requirements
Sakeliga defeats Steenhuisen’s draconian controls in court
The order grants livestock owners the right to privately procure approved stock vaccines and to administer them privately
Flood season: WC govt reluctantly recognises need for maintaining infrastructure
Most flood seasons, there is significant damage and erosion. But culverts, and floodwater systems are seldom upgraded, and often simply patched with gabiens
Growing Anarchy in the Western Cape
Western Cape increasingly mirrors anarcho-tyranny as lawlessness grows and responsible citizens become the scapegoat.
The Khoisan have already partitioned off their own land near Grabouw
Khoisan descendants have already partitioned off their own homeland at Knoflokskraal near Grabouw along the N2.
International Law overrides the South African constitution for group self-determination
Public trust shaken over Bergvliet development approval
