Personal remittances, received in South Africa
South Africa: Personal remittances, received was 0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances, received in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances, received in South Africa is 0.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 10.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances, received in South Africa peaked at 0.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 164th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances, received in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1% | — |
| 1971 | 0.1% | -9.5% |
| 1972 | 0.1% | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 0.0% | -30.6% |
| 1974 | 0.1% | +33.7% |
| 1975 | 0.1% | +30.1% |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -15.9% |
| 1977 | 0.1% | -9.2% |
| 1978 | 0.1% | +33.5% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | +24.3% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -18.3% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | -21.3% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -19.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | +71.5% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | +31.3% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | -11.2% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -15.0% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | -14.9% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | -25.2% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | +127.0% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +62.3% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +19.8% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 0.2% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 0.2% | +10.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 5.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 11.78 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 77,700 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5921 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3,907 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 7.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8472 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances, received in South Africa?
- Personal remittances, received in South Africa was 0.2% in 2025, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest personal remittances, received recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 2009.
- What is the lowest personal remittances, received recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for personal remittances, received?
- South Africa ranks 164th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is personal remittances, received rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Personal remittances, received (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Personal remittances comprise personal transfers and compensation of employees. Personal transfers consist of all current transfers in cash or in kind made or received by resident households to or from nonresident households. Personal transfers thus include all current transfers between resident and nonresident individuals. Compensation of employees refers to the income of border, seasonal, and other short-term workers who are employed in an economy where they are not resident and of residents employed by nonresident entities. Data are the sum of two items defined in the sixth edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments Manual: personal transfers and compensation of employees.