Personal remittances, received (current US$), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Personal remittances, received (current US$), per capita was 15.52 current US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances, received (current US$), per capita in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2025, personal remittances, received (current us$), per capita in South Africa stood at 15.52 current US$ per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.1% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances, received (current us$), per capita in South Africa peaked at 21.86 current US$ per person in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.6536 current US$ per person, in 1973.
That places South Africa 174th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances, received (current US$), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.6912 current US$ per person | — |
| 1971 | 0.6703 current US$ per person | -3.0% |
| 1972 | 0.7146 current US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 0.6536 current US$ per person | -8.5% |
| 1974 | 1.06 current US$ per person | +61.7% |
| 1975 | 1.39 current US$ per person | +31.2% |
| 1976 | 1.09 current US$ per person | -21.5% |
| 1977 | 1.06 current US$ per person | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 1.57 current US$ per person | +47.9% |
| 1979 | 1.79 current US$ per person | +13.9% |
| 1980 | 2.27 current US$ per person | +27.3% |
| 1981 | 2.84 current US$ per person | +25.1% |
| 1982 | 2.54 current US$ per person | -10.5% |
| 1983 | 2.25 current US$ per person | -11.7% |
| 1984 | 1.91 current US$ per person | -14.9% |
| 1985 | 1.1 current US$ per person | -42.2% |
| 1986 | 0.9816 current US$ per person | -11.1% |
| 1987 | 1.21 current US$ per person | +23.5% |
| 1988 | 1.29 current US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 2.23 current US$ per person | +73.0% |
| 1990 | 3.33 current US$ per person | +48.9% |
| 1991 | 3.1 current US$ per person | -6.9% |
| 1992 | 2.81 current US$ per person | -9.3% |
| 1993 | 2.35 current US$ per person | -16.4% |
| 1994 | 2.24 current US$ per person | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 1.86 current US$ per person | -17.3% |
| 1996 | 1.66 current US$ per person | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 3.85 current US$ per person | +132.2% |
| 1998 | 5.59 current US$ per person | +45.2% |
| 1999 | 6.57 current US$ per person | +17.4% |
| 2000 | 6.88 current US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 5.92 current US$ per person | -14.0% |
| 2002 | 5.58 current US$ per person | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 8.06 current US$ per person | +44.3% |
| 2004 | 9.56 current US$ per person | +18.6% |
| 2005 | 12.4 current US$ per person | +29.8% |
| 2006 | 13.84 current US$ per person | +11.6% |
| 2007 | 15.68 current US$ per person | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 15.33 current US$ per person | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 16.66 current US$ per person | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 20.43 current US$ per person | +22.6% |
| 2011 | 21.86 current US$ per person | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 20.17 current US$ per person | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 17.75 current US$ per person | -12.0% |
| 2014 | 16.43 current US$ per person | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 14.55 current US$ per person | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 13.19 current US$ per person | -9.3% |
| 2017 | 15.16 current US$ per person | +14.9% |
| 2018 | 15.85 current US$ per person | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 14.94 current US$ per person | -5.8% |
| 2020 | 13.39 current US$ per person | -10.4% |
| 2021 | 15.07 current US$ per person | +12.5% |
| 2022 | 13.99 current US$ per person | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 12.71 current US$ per person | -9.2% |
| 2024 | 13.36 current US$ per person | +5.1% |
| 2025 | 15.52 current US$ per person | +16.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 15.52 current US$ per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 275.26 current US$ per person, 6% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 15.52 current US$ per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31.85 current US$ per person, 49% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances, received (current US$), per capita in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +132.2% | 1.66 current US$ per person | 3.85 current US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.07 current US$ per person | 0.6536 current US$ per person | 1.79 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.86 current US$ per person | 0.9816 current US$ per person | 2.84 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.34 current US$ per person | 1.66 current US$ per person | 6.57 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.99 current US$ per person | 5.58 current US$ per person | 16.66 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.03 current US$ per person | 13.19 current US$ per person | 21.86 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.01 current US$ per person | 12.71 current US$ per person | 15.52 current US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 171 Mauritania 18.29 current US$ per person compare
- 172 Tanzania, United Republic of 16.38 current US$ per person compare
- 173 Zambia 15.68 current US$ per person compare
- 175 Iraq 15.12 current US$ per person compare
- 176 Iran, Islamic Republic of 14.69 current US$ per person compare
- 177 Madagascar 12.71 current US$ per person compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances, received (current us$), per capita in South Africa?
- Personal remittances, received (current us$), per capita in South Africa was 15.52 current US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest personal remittances, received (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.86 current US$ per person in 2011.
- What is the lowest personal remittances, received (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6536 current US$ per person in 1973.
- How does South Africa rank for personal remittances, received (current us$), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 174th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is personal remittances, received (current us$), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Personal remittances, received (current US$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Personal remittances, received (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Personal remittances, received (current US$) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Personal remittances, received IMF balance of payments data, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Personal remittances, received (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.