South Africa
20/02/2024
A. Annual series
A.1 Foreign-born population, 1985-2022
(Individuals)
Years Total Population Foreign-born
All foreign-born Born in Portugal
N Change in N % of total Change in N % of total As a % of all foreign-born Change in
2022 62 027 503 4.6 2 418 197 3.9 -15.5 7 615 0.0 0.3 -35.8
2020 59 308 690 1.3 2 860 495 4.8 -32.3 11 861 0.0 0.4 -75.1
2019 58 558 270 3.2 4 224 256 7.2 4.6 47 622 0.1 1.1 6.0
2017 56 717 156 1.9 4 036 696 7.1 155.7 44 925 0.1 1.1 352.4
2016 55 653 654 0.5 1 578 541 2.8 -51.2 9 931 0.0 0.6 0.0
2015 55 386 369 7.0 3 231 728 5.8 47.6 9 931 0.0 0.3 -36.4
2011 51 770 560 1.1 2 188 872 4.2 3.5 15 626 0.0 0.7 -10.7
2010 51 216 967 7.0 2 114 801 4.1 56.5 17 495 0.0 0.8 -30.2
2005 47 880 595 6.8 1 351 031 2.8 31.8 25 060 0.1 1.9 --
2001 44 819 778 -0.3 1 025 076 2.3 0.8 -- -- -- --
2000 44 967 713 10.8 1 016 963 2.3 6.1 19 048 0.0 1.9 323.1
1996 40 583 573 73.5 958 186 2.4 -48.3 4 502 0.0 0.5 -89.3
1985 23 385 645 -- 1 854 561 7.9 -- 41 984 0.2 2.3 --
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 15/jan./2024
Chart
Born in Portugal
Note The values of residents with Portuguese nationality in 2001 exclude those with double nationality.

The data from 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 were revised by the UN and amended by OEm on 22/11/2022.
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Statistics South AfricaCensus 2001 (information granted upon request for the years of 1996 and 2001); United Nations Statistical Division, Foreign-born population by country of birth, age, sex and urban/rural residence: each census, 1985 - 2004 (born abroad and in Portugal, 1985), United Nations Statistical Division, Population by country of citizenship, sex and urban/rural residence: each census, 1985 - 2004 (foreigners and Portuguese, 1985), Census 2011 (data of Portuguese and foreign nationality granted upon request). Census 2011 and Community Survey 2016, Census 2022 (data born in Portugal and abroad). United Nations Statistics Division (2017), United Nations Statistics Division (2019) and United Nations Statistics Division (other data) (the UN figures are estimates).
A.1.1 Residents born in Portugal by sex, 2000-2020
(indivíduos)
Years All foreign-born Female Male
N N % of total N % of total
2020 11 861 5 880 49.6 5 981 50.4
2019 47 622 23 867 50.1 23 755 49.9
2017 44 925 22 533 50.2 22 392 49.8
2015 9 931 4 917 49.5 5 014 50.5
2010 17 495 8 417 48.1 9 078 51.9
2005 25 060 11 918 47.6 13 142 52.4
2000 19 048 8 678 45.6 10 370 54.4
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 22/nov./2022
Chart
Residents born in Portugal by sex
Note The data for 2010 and 2015 were reviewed by the UN and amended by OEm on 22/11/2022.
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from United Nations Statistics Division (2017), United Nations Statistics Division (2019) and United Nations Statistics Division (other data) (the UN figures are estimates).
A.2 Foreign population, 1985-2022
(Individuals)
Years Total Population All foreign-born
All foreign-born Foreigners with Portuguese citizenship
N Change in N % of total Change in N % of total As a % of all foreigners Change in
2022 62 027 503 4.6 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2020 59 308 690 1.3 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2019 58 558 270 3.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2017 56 717 156 1.9 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2016 55 653 654 0.5 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2015 55 386 369 7.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2011 51 770 560 1.1 581 815 1.1 -- 10 454 0.0 0.5 --
2010 51 216 967 7.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2005 47 880 595 6.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2001 44 819 778 -0.3 463 002 1.0 -- 5 779 0.0 0.6 --
2000 44 967 713 10.8 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
1996 40 583 573 73.5 455 211 1.1 -82.2 6 792 0.0 0.7 -84.7
1985 23 385 645 -- 2 562 671 11.0 -- 44 262 0.2 2.4 --
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 15/jan./2024
Chart
Foreigners with Portuguese citizenship
Note The values of residents with Portuguese nationality in 2001 exclude those with double nationality.

The data from 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 were revised by the UN and amended by OEm on 22/11/2022.
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Statistics South AfricaCensus 2001 (information granted upon request for the years of 1996 and 2001); United Nations Statistical Division, Foreign-born population by country of birth, age, sex and urban/rural residence: each census, 1985 - 2004 (born abroad and in Portugal, 1985), United Nations Statistical Division, Population by country of citizenship, sex and urban/rural residence: each census, 1985 - 2004 (foreigners and Portuguese, 1985), Census 2011 (data of Portuguese and foreign nationality granted upon request). Census 2011 and Community Survey 2016, Census 2022 (data born in Portugal and abroad). United Nations Statistics Division (2017), United Nations Statistics Division (2019) and United Nations Statistics Division (other data) (the UN figures are estimates).
A.3 Consular registrations , 2008-2022
(Individuals)
Years All registrations Registrations by migrants born in Portugal Registrations by migrants with Portuguese citizenship
N Change in N % of total Change in N % of total Change in
2022 105 001 -3.0 -- -- -- -- -- --
2021 108 254 -3.4 -- -- -- -- -- --
2020 112 054 4.4 -- -- -- -- -- --
2019 107 324 41.8 -- -- -- -- -- --
2018 75 681 -37.6 -- -- -- -- -- --
2014 121 358 69.7 -- -- -- -- -- --
2012 71 513 -12.3 25 780 36.0 -26.2 62 006 86.7 -11.6
2011 81 571 1.4 34 913 42.8 -0.8 70 171 86.0 -12.1
2010 80 476 3.8 35 205 43.8 3.2 79 860 99.2 3.5
2009 77 533 8.3 34 121 44.0 2.6 77 139 99.5 8.2
2008 71 565 -- 33 265 46.5 -- 71 292 99.6 --
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 24/out./2023
Chart
All consular resgistrations
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Portuguese consulates abroad and Consular Management System (DGACCP), values granted upon request.
A.4 Foreign inflows , 2001-2003
(Individuals)
Years Total inflows Portuguese inflows
N Change in N % of total Change in
2003 10 578 61.6 61 0.6 22.0
2002 6 545 35.4 50 0.8 16.3
2001 4 832 -- 43 0.9 --
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 20/fev./2024
Chart
Portuguese inflows
Note The values correspond to the number of individuals who were granted permanent residence.
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Statistics South Africa (information granted upon request, for 2001 and 2002); Documented migration, 2003 (accessed in 09/09/2011).
A.6 Remittances , 2000-2023
(Euros, thousands)
Years Inward flows (thousand euros) (a) Outward flows (thousand euros) (b) Balance (a/b)
Change in Change in
2023 34 690 3.6 1 820 -11.2 19
2022 33 480 5.4 2 050 4.6 16
2021 31 770 -8.3 1 960 69.0 16
2020 34 650 -30.1 1 160 -10.1 30
2019 49 600 18.1 1 290 -7.9 38
2018 42 000 55.4 1 400 -28.6 30
2017 27 030 170.8 1 960 6.0 14
2016 9 980 16.4 1 850 23.3 5
2015 8 570 -2.2 1 500 -29.2 6
2014 8 760 33.5 2 120 341.7 4
2013 6 560 -16.5 480 -66.4 14
2012 7 860 -4.2 1 430 16.3 6
2011 8 200 22.2 1 230 36.7 7
2010 6 710 31.3 900 -7.2 7
2009 5 110 -48.1 970 86.5 5
2008 9 850 24.4 520 6.1 19
2007 7 920 15.8 490 -69.2 16
2006 6 840 23.5 1 590 30.3 4
2005 5 540 -60.9 1 220 5.2 5
2004 14 170 57.6 1 160 -47.3 12
2003 8 990 3.8 2 200 27.9 4
2002 8 660 -32.5 1 720 -32.3 5
2001 12 830 -9.6 2 540 -31.5 5
2000 14 190 -- 3 710 -- 4
[ .. ]Data not available, residual data, not applicable[ e ]EstimateLast update: 20/fev./2024
Chart
Remittances
Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Banco de PortugalBP stat, Estatísticas de balança de pagamentos, Remessas de emigrantes/imigrantes.
B. Census

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Instituto Universitário de Lisboa

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1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal

T. (+351) 210 464 322

F. (+351) 217 940 074

observatorioemigracao@iscte-iul.pt

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