According to Wise Move’s 2025 South African Migration Report, local moves are the dominant trend in the country.
The country’s evolving migration patterns are not only reshaping the economy but also driving the emergence of new growth hubs and generating significant economic ripple effects across the nation.
Analysing over 15,000 relocations in 2024, the report reveals that 70% of all moves took place within the same province, while 30% were interprovincial.
Gauteng, in particular, experienced a high volume of internal migration, accounting for 60.3% of all interprovincial relocations. However, the province also saw the largest net loss of residents, with a decrease of 20.1%.
This suggests that while Johannesburg continues to attract individuals seeking career opportunities, many ultimately leave the province after establishing their professional roots.
Why did your neighbours really? Here are the top reasons South Africans are on the move according to Wise Move.
When it comes to why South Africans relocate, the data tells a clear story — it’s all about opportunity and connection. The top reason for moving is the pursuit of paid work (22.9%) — highlighting the economic drivers behind many relocation decisions.
Following closely, 15.5% of people move to be closer to a spouse or for family reasons, emphasising
the importance of personal connections.
Interestingly, reasons like crime (0.6%), divorce (0.5%), and political instability (0.1%) are among the least cited, challenging common assumptions.
In short, South Africans move for better jobs, stronger relationships, and brighter futures — not out of fear, but in pursuit of opportunity, Wise Move said.
According to FNB’s Property Barometer for the end of the last quarter, property sales continue to be primarily driven by life-stage downscaling and financial pressures.
Downscaling due to life-stage changes, such as retirees moving into smaller homes, accounted for 22% of total sales. Meanwhile, financial pressure-induced sales saw a slight increase, rising to 23%.
These figures remain above the long-term average of 18%, underscoring the ongoing financial strain many households are facing.
Sellers under financial pressure are increasingly opting to downsize rather than rent, reinforcing the prevailing trend of buying down.
Relocations within South Africa held steady at 14%, well above the long-term average of 9%. However, upgrading activity slowed to 10% as many homeowners are adopting a more cautious approach to taking on additional debt amidst high interest rates.
Meanwhile, emigration-related sales saw a slight decrease, falling from 8% to 7%, a significant drop compared to the peak levels observed in 2019.
