Population · Chart
South African deportations rose from 39,672 to 57,784 in two years
57,784deportations 2025/26 · Highest
Deportations rose by about 46% in two years. The 2026 enforcement drive continued a trend that had already started.
From our storiesEpping and the Data Behind South Africa's 2026 Migrant DeparturesRead the full story →
Method and sources
Each bar is the number of deportations recorded in a South African financial year, as reported in the article.
2023/24: 39,672. 2024/25: 51,560, which the article marks as up 30% year on year. 2025/26: 57,784, up 12% year on year.
The article gives financial years and states the figures run to 31 March 2026, so the period uses the South African financial year, 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2026.
Sources: Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority (https://www.dha.gov.za/)
Figures as published in our article on Epping and the 2026 migrant departures (chart last checked 14 September 2026): Department of Home Affairs and Border Management Authority annual deportation counts to 31 March 2026.
Chart updated · 1 Nov 2026. The observation dates above describe the data, not today’s conditions.
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