Which Countries Would South Africans Prefer To Live In
This report examines what share of registered South African voters are considering emigrating and which country they would prefer to emigrate to. The data in the report comes from two Foundation surveys. The first was a survey of 3 204 demographically and geographically representative registered voters conducted by the Foundation during July of 2022. That survey had a margin of error of 1.7%. The second was a survey of 1 204 demographically and geographically representative registered voters conducted by the Foundation during September of 2024. That survey had a margin of error of 3%.
July 2022 - Are you considering emigrating?
By race
July 2022 - Are you considering emigrating?
By education
July 2022 - Are you considering emigrating?
By income
July 2022 - Are you considering emigrating?
By party affiliation
September 2024 - Are you considering emigrating?
By race
September 2024 - Are you considering emigrating?
By education
September 2024 - Are you considering emigrating?
By income
September 2024 - Are you considering emigrating?
By party affiliation
July 2022 - If it was up to you, in which one of the following countries would you prefer to live, work and raise your children?
By race
July 2022 - If it was up to you, in which one of the following countries would you prefer to live, work and raise your children?
By education
July 2022 - If it was up to you, in which one of the following countries would you prefer to live, work and raise your children?
By income
July 2022 - If it was up to you, in which one of the following countries would you prefer to live, work and raise your children?
By party affiliation
September 2024 - If it was up to you, in which one of the following countries would you prefer to live, work and raise your children?
By race
September 2024 - If it was up to you, in which one of the following countries would you prefer to live, work and raise your children?
By education
September 2024 - If it was up to you, in which one of the following countries would you prefer to live, work and raise your children?
By income
September 2024 - If it was up to you, in which one of the following countries would you prefer to live, work and raise your children?
By party affiliation
TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS
The data indicates that around a quarter of South Africans are considering emigration. Their preferred destinations are in Western Europe and North America. Only a very small proportion cite a preference for non-Western societies such as Cuba, Russia and China. White appetite for emigration appears to have slipped by 12 percentage points following the formation of South Africa's government of national unity, earlier in 2024. This is consistent with middle-class opinion on the country's prospects under the unity government.
