Moving to South Africa from Sudan

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Sudan to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Sudan to South Africa. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Johannesburg averages 71°F vs 99°F in Khartoum, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Sudan to South Africa, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
3,651 ↑ 16% vs 2015

people born in Sudan live in South Africa · UN DESA

Who's moving to South Africa?

Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Sudan to South Africa.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SD
19.6
ZA
24.5

Sudan performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SD
$28
ZA
$1,354
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SD
2.5
ZA
7.9

Sudan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SD
70.0
ZA
47.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SD
0.4t
ZA
6.9t

Sudan generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SD
0.1
ZA
5.3
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SD
118.7%
ZA
67.6%

South Africa performs significantly better than Sudan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SD
11.4%
ZA
32.4%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SD
$1,165
ZA
$6,598

Sudan generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SD
66.5 yrs
ZA
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SD
42.9
ZA
24.2

South Africa generally does better on family life, though Sudan leads in life expectancy.

Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), The World Factbook (2009–2023), World Health Organization (2024), Sudan Chamber of Taxation (2015), South African Revenue Service (2017). How we calculate this

Weather in South Africa vs Sudan

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Khartoum Rain: 4.8 in/yr (121 mm)
99° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

Johannesburg Rain: 28.1 in/yr (713 mm)
71° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Khartoum Johannesburg
Jan–Mar 92°/64°F (33°/18°C) 77°/57°F (25°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 106°/79°F (41°/26°C) 66°/45°F (19°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 101°/79°F (38°/26°C) 67°/44°F (20°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 96°/71°F (35°/21°C) 76°/55°F (24°/13°C)
View all months
Month Khartoum Johannesburg
Jan 87°/60°F (30.7°/15.6°C) 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.7°C)
Feb 91°/62°F (32.6°/16.8°C) 77°/57°F (25.1°/14.1°C)
Mar 98°/69°F (36.5°/20.3°C) 75°/56°F (24.0°/13.1°C)
Apr 105°/75°F (40.4°/24.1°C) 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.3°C)
May 107°/81°F (41.9°/27.3°C) 66°/45°F (18.9°/7.2°C)
Jun 106°/82°F (41.3°/27.6°C) 61°/39°F (16.0°/4.1°C)
Jul 101°/79°F (38.5°/26.2°C) 62°/39°F (16.7°/4.1°C)
Aug 100°/78°F (37.6°/25.6°C) 67°/43°F (19.4°/6.2°C)
Sep 102°/79°F (38.7°/26.3°C) 73°/49°F (22.8°/9.3°C)
Oct 103°/79°F (39.3°/25.9°C) 75°/52°F (23.8°/11.2°C)
Nov 95°/70°F (35.2°/21.0°C) 76°/55°F (24.2°/12.7°C)
Dec 89°/63°F (31.7°/17.0°C) 77°/57°F (25.2°/13.9°C)

Data: Sudan Meteorological Authority Sudan Meteorological Authority, South African Weather Service South African Weather Service

Can you move from Sudan to South Africa?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sudan 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.

Sudan passport

Sudan passport holder visiting South Africa

Visa Required
Sudan passport holders need a visa to enter South Africa.
South Africa passport

South Africa passport holder visiting Sudan

Visa Required
South Africa passport holders need a visa to enter Sudan.

Data: 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?

Sudan performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Sudan?

Sudan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 7.9 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 2.5 in Sudan. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sudan: 44).

What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Sudan?

The average high temperature in Johannesburg is 71°F, compared to 99°F in Khartoum. Johannesburg receives around 28.1 in of rainfall per year, while Khartoum gets 4.8 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 Sudan, the official languages are Arabic and English.

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At a Glance

SD ZA
Population 51,662,147 64,747,319
Currency Sudanese Pound (SDG) South African Rand (ZAR)
Languages Arabic, English Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +249 +27
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number — 10111