Sending country · World Bank RPW · ZA
Send money from South Africa
Outbound average cost sits in the upper fleet tercile at 16.9% across 13 destination corridors - senders pay more than typical RPW-tracked markets.
- 16.9%
- Avg outbound cost
- 0.0%
- Cheapest · to Lesotho
- $1.1B
- Sent per year
- 13
- Destination corridors
Outbound-cost tercile vs fleet
South Africa posts a 16.9% average outbound cost, above the fleet upper tercile (~7.7%) - across 13 destination corridors. Cheapest tracked floor: 0.0% to Lesotho.
- #28 of 34
- WDI outflow corpus rank
- 16.9%
- average outbound cost
- 0.0%
- cheapest destination: Lesotho
- $1.1B
- sent annually
South Africa among sending countries: volume vs. cost
South Africa sits at the 21st percentile for outbound volume among 34 tracked sending countries - the 30 largest senders plotted below by annual outflow and average cost, South Africa highlighted.
Sending countries by volume and cost: United States, $107.1B annual outflow, 5.53% average cost. Saudi Arabia, $58.69B annual outflow, 6.09% average cost. Switzerland, $42.68B annual outflow, 6.94% average cost. Germany, $26.67B annual outflow, 4.96% average cost. France, $20.8B annual outflow, 7.31% average cost. Kuwait, $16.74B annual outflow, 3.54% average cost. Australia, $15.86B annual outflow, 7.38% average cost. Canada, $15.11B annual outflow, 5.77% average cost. South Korea, $14.31B annual outflow, 5.49% average cost. Italy, $13.91B annual outflow, 8.04% average cost. United Kingdom, $13.17B annual outflow, 5.08% average cost. India, $12.08B annual outflow, 6.32% average cost. Qatar, $12.06B annual outflow, 6.02% average cost. Belgium, $11.22B annual outflow, 3.13% average cost. Austria, $10.81B annual outflow, 4.57% average cost. Thailand, $9.98B annual outflow, 11.87% average cost. Russia, $8.86B annual outflow, 3.03% average cost. Japan, $7.17B annual outflow, 10.69% average cost. Norway, $6.29B annual outflow, 3.66% average cost. Czech Republic, $5.96B annual outflow, 6.27% average cost. Poland, $5.6B annual outflow, 3.73% average cost. Sweden, $4.2B annual outflow, 6.65% average cost. Brazil, $1.86B annual outflow, 12.62% average cost. Israel, $1.62B annual outflow, 13.13% average cost. Ghana, $1.31B annual outflow, 13.29% average cost. Dominican Republic, $1.17B annual outflow, 7.68% average cost. New Zealand, $1.14B annual outflow, 8.39% average cost. South Africa (this country), $1.13B annual outflow, 16.9% average cost. Spain, $0.79B annual outflow, 5.65% average cost. Chile, $0.69B annual outflow, 4.93% average cost.
Outbound cost bands from South Africa
13 destination corridors counted once by recorded average cost on a $200 send. The four bands sum to 13.
HEAVY Heavy-fee >8% lane · country average 16.9%
Cheapest Corridors from South Africa
All Corridors from South Africa
| # | To | Avg cost | Cheapest | Cheapest provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mozambique | 10.3% | 2.7% | Sikhona Money Transfers |
| 2 | Kenya | 10.6% | 3.4% | Sikhona Money Transfers |
| 3 | Lesotho | 11.2% | 0.0% | ABSA |
| 4 | Swaziland | 11.6% | 0.0% | ABSA |
| 5 | Zimbabwe | 12.5% | 5.2% | WorldRemit |
| 6 | Nigeria | 14.7% | 3.5% | Mama Money |
| 7 | Zambia | 14.7% | 4.9% | WorldRemit |
| 8 | India | 16.4% | 5.3% | Mama Money |
| 9 | Botswana | 16.4% | 5.6% | First National Bank of South Africa |
| 10 | Tanzania | 17.3% | 6.1% | Mama Money |
| 11 | Angola | 21.4% | 6.1% | First National Bank of South Africa |
| 12 | China | 23.9% | 3.8% | Sasai Money Transfer |
| 13 | Malawi | 38.6% | 0.4% | Mukuru |
High outbound cost from South Africa
World Bank RPW tracks 13 outbound corridors from South Africa at an average 16.90% - above the fleet upper tercile (~7.7%). Senders here pay more than typical RPW markets, 10.5 pp above the ~6.4% global average.
The three cheapest outbound corridors from South Africa right now are Lesotho at 0.00% via ABSA, Swaziland at 0.00% via ABSA, Malawi at 0.39% via Mukuru. These are floor prices on a $200 transfer from South Africa, fee plus FX margin.
On a high-cost send market, comparing the cheapest provider on the specific corridor matters more than picking a household brand - within-corridor price dispersion often exceeds the gap between the cheapest and dearest destinations.
About South Africa outbound data
PlainRemit compares international money-transfer costs across tracked corridors so you can see which routes and providers charge the least before you send money abroad. This country's figures are computed directly from the World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) quarterly survey, a mystery-shopping panel of actual transfer quotes for a standardized $200 transfer. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 10.c target is to reduce remittance transaction costs to below 3% by 2030; always verify current rates directly with providers before sending money, rates change frequently.
Average outbound cost 16.90%; 13 destination corridors tracked from South Africa; vintage 2026-08-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money does South Africa send in remittances each year?
South Africa sends about $1.1B a year - lower outflow tercile - to 13 RPW destination countries at 16.90% average outbound cost.
What are the cheapest countries to send money to from South Africa?
On World Bank RPW $200 sends, the cheapest outbound floors from South Africa are to Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, as low as 0.00%. Country average outbound cost is 16.90% (upper fleet tercile).
How have remittance costs from South Africa changed over time?
South Africa's current average outbound cost is 16.90%, above the fleet upper tercile (~7.7%) and 10.5 pp above the ~6.4% global RPW average. RPW has tracked this send market since 2011; UN SDG 10.c still targets ≤3% by 2030.
How do I compare money transfer services?
To compare money transfer services from South Africa, look at three factors: (1) total cost as a percentage of your transfer amount, including both the service fee and exchange rate margin, (2) delivery speed, and (3) payment and payout methods available in your destination country. World Bank RPW data, used here, standardizes costs as a percentage of a $200 transfer. Always verify current rates directly with providers before sending.
Where does South Africa sit among remittance-sending countries?
According to World Bank WDI remittance outflows among 34 tracked sending countries on PlainRemit, South Africa ranks #28 of 34 by annual dollars sent. /send-from browses alphabetically; this outflow ordinal is the analytical placement basis.