South Africa recorded a total of 14,183,030 foreign arrivals in 2025, representing a 20.9 per cent increase compared to 11,729,224 arrivals in 2024, according to official tourism data.
The figures show a strong rebound in international travel, with arrivals coming from across Africa, overseas markets, and unspecified countries through all ports of entry.
Of the total arrivals, 13,848,454 were classified as visitors, while 334,576 were non-visitors.
The visitor segment was further divided into 3,349,948 same-day visitors and 10,498,506 tourists, defined as overnight visitors, highlighting the dominance of longer-stay travel in the country’s tourism mix.
A breakdown of tourist demographics reveals that male visitors accounted for 6,022,518, while female visitors totalled 4,475,987.
In terms of age distribution, the largest group of tourists fell within the 35–44 age bracket (3,022,946), followed by those aged 25–34 (2,481,600) and 45–54 (1,932,939).
Younger travelers included 935,635 aged 15–24 and 551,393 under 15, while older age groups recorded 963,184 (55–64) and 610,803 (65 and above). A small number—six visitors—did not specify their age.
Analysts say the strong growth reflects increased travel demand and improved tourism flows into South Africa, particularly in the post-pandemic recovery phase.
The data reinforces South Africa’s position as one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations, supported by diverse offerings ranging from wildlife and culture to business and leisure travel.
