Air transport, passengers carried in South Africa

South Africa: Air transport, passengers carried was 15.45 million in 2023. β—† Volatile

Latest (2023)
15.45 million
Change on year
up 27.4%
World rank
42nd
of 183 countries
All-time high
26.21 million
in 2019
All-time low
1.52 million
in 1970
Years of data
54
1970–2023

Air transport, passengers carried in South Africa, 1970–2023

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M25.0M197019962023

Source: Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for air transport, passengers carried in South Africa is 15.45 million, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 27.4% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, air transport, passengers carried in South Africa peaked at 26.21 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.52 million, in 1970.

That places South Africa 42nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.61 million 1.52 million 3.78 million 10
1980s 4.41 million 3.83 million 5.64 million 10
1990s 6.10 million 4.68 million 7.40 million 10
2000s 10.63 million 7.95 million 13.14 million 10
2010s 19.34 million 15.78 million 26.21 million 10
2020s 11.30 million 8.30 million 15.45 million 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 39 Peru 17.72 million compare
  2. 40 Egypt 16.67 million compare
  3. 41 Panama 15.75 million compare
  4. 43 Ethiopia 15.27 million compare
  5. 44 New Zealand 15.03 million compare
  6. 45 Norway 12.28 million compare

See the full ranking of 230 places β†’

More infrastructure data for South Africa

All data for South Africa β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is air transport, passengers carried in South Africa?
Air transport, passengers carried in South Africa was 15.45 million in 2023, according to Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
What is the highest air transport, passengers carried recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 26.21 million in 2019.
What is the lowest air transport, passengers carried recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.52 million in 1970.
How does South Africa rank for air transport, passengers carried?
South Africa ranks 42nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
Is air transport, passengers carried rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), published as part of Air transport, passengers carried. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Air transport, passengers carried in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/air-transport-passengers-carried/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Air transport, passengers carried
Source
Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
230 places, 10,242 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Air carrier data per country refers to passengers carried by airlines registered in that country regardless of the origin or destination of the passengers.