Any shift or migration of a statistically significant number of people living a country, district, or area is referred to as population movement.
South Africa has the most immigrants on the African continent due to its middle-income position, strong democratic institutions, and comparatively industrialized economy. According to official estimates, the country is home to approximately 2.9 million immigrants, accounting for little less than 5% of the total population of 60 million people. However, because of the presence of huge numbers of unlawful migrants, particularly from surrounding countries, this figure is regarded to be an underestimate.
Immigration has risen in recent decades, particularly with the advent of democracy and the end of apartheid in 1994. Statistics South Africa, the government’s statistical office, estimates that a net 853,000 persons moved to the country over the 2016-21 period, a minor decrease from the net immigration of 916,300 during the 2011-16 period but a substantial increase from the 491,700 during the 2001-06 period. Net immigration was largest among African (894,400) and Asian (49,900) groups between 2016 and 2021, but was offset by net departure of roughly 91,000 White inhabitants. The majority of immigrants live in Gauteng, the richest province in South Africa, which includes the commercial city of Johannesburg, the executive capital of Pretoria/Tshwane, and the manufacturing hub of Ekurhuleni.
According to the country’s most recent census, three-quarters of South Africa’s immigrants are from elsewhere on the African continent. Sixty-eight percent of these Africans came from outside the 16-country Southern African Development Community (SADC). According to 2020 United Nations figures, Zimbabwe was the greatest origin country, accounting for 24 percent of all immigrants. South Africa also attracts a considerable number of European and North American immigrants.
South Africa also has a constant outflow of citizens, primarily from the White community, to nations such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States (see Table 2). After the end of apartheid, many white South Africans were disillusioned with the new majority Black administration, and this trend has continued for nearly three decades. In 1996, white residents made up 11% of the South African population, 9% in 2011, and only 8% by mid-2021. This ongoing drop has been attributed to white emigration and reduced fertility rates among white groups.
What are the reasons for South Africa’s population movement?
Regional migration, rural-urban movement, urbanization, and voluntary and forced migration are all examples of migration.
What drives population migration?
Higher pay, greater career possibilities, a higher standard of living, and educational chances are all pull factors. If economic conditions are unfavorable and appear to be deteriorating further, an increasing number of people will likely relocate to countries with a better outlook.
What are the two types of population migration?
Then explain to pupils that people migrate for a variety of reasons, and that categories of human migration include: Internal migration is defined as movement within a state, country, or continent. Moving to a different state, country, or continent is an example of external migration.
