South Africa’s global footprint is bigger than ever.
According to recent research presented by the UCT Liberty Institute and covered by News24, more than one million South Africans are now living abroad. Based on United Nations data, approximately 914,000 South African citizens were living outside the country in 2020; a figure that has doubled since 2005. With continued emigration in recent years, the true number is likely even higher.
But behind the headline number lies something more nuanced: a diaspora that is financially successful, emotionally divided, deeply connected to home, and unlikely to return permanently.
For businesses like Apostil.co.za, which work daily with South Africans navigating cross-border paperwork, the findings confirm what we see firsthand: emigration may change geography, but it rarely severs ties.
A global community, concentrated but far-reaching
The study surveyed over 1,500 South Africans across 73 countries, making it one of the most comprehensive diaspora snapshots in recent years.
The majority of South Africans abroad are concentrated in five English-speaking destinations:
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- United States
- New Zealand
- Canada
Language, employment mobility, and historical ties clearly play a role.
Yet the diaspora stretches far beyond these hubs, with established communities across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as in countries such as Iceland and South Korea.
What stands out is longevity. Half of the respondents have lived outside South Africa for more than ten years.
This is no longer a temporary migration wave. It is structural.
Why they left and what they don’t miss
Nearly half of the respondents cited crime and safety concerns as the primary reason for leaving. Other major drivers included:
- Better opportunities for children
- Career prospects
- Economic uncertainty
- Desire for international experience
Crime also ranked as the least missed aspect of South Africa, followed by corruption and load-shedding.
The psychological relief described by many respondents is striking. Words like “peace”, “freedom”, and “safety” recur throughout the report.
Yet emigration is not framed as a simple upgrade.
The hidden cost: grief, identity and distance
While the economic and safety gains are clear, the emotional cost is significant.
Many respondents described:
- Homesickness and grief
- A fractured sense of identity
- Feeling permanently “in between”
- Guilt about leaving ageing parents behind
- The trauma of missing funerals and family crises
The diaspora may be thriving, but it is not untouched.
Interestingly, 86% still identify strongly as South African. Only 3% support sports teams from their new country instead of South Africa. Nearly 80% say they miss people most.
Distance has not dissolved identity.
Financially successful but still connected
The survey also challenges stereotypes.
A significant portion of respondents report high earnings and substantial net worth. Many are financially thriving.
Yet their connection to South Africa remains strong:
- 95% have family still in South Africa
- 56% maintain South African bank accounts
- 31% retain retirement annuities
- 19% own property locally
- 56% send money home
World Bank estimates suggest that around R16 billion is remitted into South Africa annually. The survey data indicates the real figure could be higher.
Family support is the primary reason for remittances.
In other words, even when South Africans leave, their financial footprint remains.
Returning home? Unlikely for many
Perhaps the most telling statistic: only 17% plan to return to live in South Africa.
43% say they will never return.
40% are unsure.
Those least likely to return are concentrated in Australia and New Zealand.
Those most likely to return share common traits:
- Recent departure (within three years)
- Property ownership in South Africa
- Children born in South Africa
- Higher levels of homesickness
- Optimism about South Africa’s future
Crime, governance, economic stability, and infrastructure remain the biggest factors influencing potential return.
For now, permanent relocation appears to be the dominant trend.
What this means for documentation and legal processes
For the diaspora, living abroad does not eliminate administrative ties to South Africa.
In fact, it often increases them.
South Africans abroad frequently require:
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Police clearance certificates
- Apostilles for international use
- Authentication of South African documents
- Verification of marital status
- Preparation of documents for foreign citizenship applications
Maintaining financial ties, property ownership, retirement products, and family relationships means documentation continues long after departure.
Apostil.co.za regularly assists South Africans living overseas who need South African documents prepared correctly for use abroad. Whether it’s apostille services or structured verification processes, proper preparation prevents delays in already complex cross-border matters.
👉 You can learn more about Apostil.co.za’s apostille services here.
A diaspora that is leaving but not disconnecting
The report paints a clear picture.
South Africa’s diaspora is:
- Large and growing
- Economically active
- Emotionally complex
- Financially connected
- Proudly South African
Emigration is not a clean break. It is a shift in geography layered over continuing legal, financial, and family obligations.
As long as over a million South Africans live abroad while maintaining ties to home, the need for accurate, reliable document preparation will remain central to their lives.
The country may lose residents.
It has not lost its people.