Moving to South Africa from Guyana
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Guyana to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Guyana to South Africa. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Johannesburg averages 71°F vs 87°F in Georgetown, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Guyana to South Africa, based on official data.
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
- 690,243
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
- 63,892
- · · ·
-
127.67
Guyana
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Guyana to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Guyana performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Guyana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in suicide rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Guyana generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Guyana performs better than South Africa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Guyana performs better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Guyana generally does better on family life, though South Africa leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2006–2021). How we calculate this
Weather in South Africa vs Guyana
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Georgetown | Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 84°/75°F (29°/24°C) | 77°/57°F (25°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) | 66°/45°F (19°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) | 67°/44°F (20°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 86°/76°F (30°/24°C) | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Georgetown | Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.2°C) | 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 84°/75°F (28.9°/24.1°C) | 77°/57°F (25.1°/14.1°C) |
| Mar | 85°/76°F (29.6°/24.2°C) | 75°/56°F (24.0°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 85°/76°F (29.5°/24.4°C) | 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.3°C) |
| May | 103°/76°F (39.4°/24.2°C) | 66°/45°F (18.9°/7.2°C) |
| Jun | 85°/75°F (29.2°/23.8°C) | 61°/39°F (16.0°/4.1°C) |
| Jul | 85°/74°F (29.6°/23.5°C) | 62°/39°F (16.7°/4.1°C) |
| Aug | 86°/75°F (30.2°/23.8°C) | 67°/43°F (19.4°/6.2°C) |
| Sep | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.2°C) | 73°/49°F (22.8°/9.3°C) |
| Oct | 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.4°C) | 75°/52°F (23.8°/11.2°C) |
| Nov | 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.2°C) | 76°/55°F (24.2°/12.7°C) |
| Dec | 85°/75°F (29.4°/23.7°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/13.9°C) |
Data:
Hydrometeorological Service,
South African Weather Service
Can you move from Guyana to South Africa?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guyana and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
Guyana passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Free
South Africa passport holder visiting Guyana
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Africa has 5.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Guyana performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 43.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 19.1 in Guyana.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Guyana?
Guyana generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in suicide rate. There are 7.9 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 13.9 in Guyana. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guyana: 76).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Guyana?
The average high temperature in Johannesburg is 71°F, compared to 87°F in Georgetown. Johannesburg receives around 28.1 in of rainfall per year, while Georgetown gets 89.1 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Guyana, the official language is English.
Compare further: Guyana vs. South Africa
At a Glance
GY
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 835,986 | 64,747,319 |
| Currency | Guyanaese Dollar (GYD) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | English | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Left | Left |
| Calling code | +592 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | — | 10111 |