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South African Americans

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See also: African immigration to the United States
South African Americans
Total population
139,322 (2022)
Regions with significant populations
Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, South Florida, New York, Atlanta, Phoenix,[1] San Francisco[2]
Languages
South African English, American English, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Zulu, Tswana, see languages of South Africa
Religion
Roman Catholic, Reformed Churches, Jewish, Methodism, Anglicanism, minority: irreligion
Related ethnic groups

South African Americans are Americans who have full or partial ancestry from South Africa. As of 2021, there were approximately 123,461 people born in South Africa who were living in the United States.[3] There are large populations in Southern California, especially in Orange County and San Diego County, and the Miami, Florida area.

Demography[edit]

The majority of overseas South Africans live in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, countries with similar cultural and linguistic heritage to many South Africans, as well as similar climates and latitude positioning in the case of the latter two countries.[4] There have also been a large number of South African immigrants who have gone to the US. Many white South Africans, both before and after the end of apartheid, emigrated to Midwestern states such as Minnesota and Illinois. Atlanta, Georgia, has a large population of South African Jews.[5] Moreover, there are numerous South Africans living in New York City and Mid-Atlantic states such as Maryland. Most South African immigrants in the US are white people of European origin. Of the 82,000 South Africans living in the US between 2008 and 2009, about 11,000 of them were Black South Africans.[6] In the 2000 Census, 509 South African Americans reported their ethnic origins as Zulu.[7]

The majority of these immigrants are English speaking, with a moderate proportion of these being South African Jews. In the US, South Africans in general — both white and black — live in the US individually, rather than in communities of South African Americans.[8] The highest number of South Africans in the US live in California, notably Los Angeles County, Orange County and San Diego,[9][10] while smaller populations reside in the Mid-Atlantic and the Pacific Northwest.

South African-born population[edit]

South African-born population in the US since 2015:[11]

Year Number
2015 94,141
2016 Increase104,889
2017 Increase111,720
2018 Decrease99,672
2019 Increase111,116
2020 Decrease108,650
2021 Increase123,461
2022 Increase139,322

Organizations[edit]

Indaba ("discussion" in Zulu) is an example of an organization set up by South Africans to promote community involvement. It was founded in the 1990s and sponsors community events and activities. In addition, this organization allows the exchange of information through a web site and a mailing list, keeping South Africans informed about international and local events. The South African consulate in Chicago has close ties with many expatriates and hosts regular events and speakers, including an annual celebration of Freedom Day on 27 April. In 2001, the hosts founded the African Group of the U.S. Women's Action to boost the knowledge and understanding of South Africa among Americans. The South Africans are also in many other forums, such as informal parties, religious activities and rugby matches.[12]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "U.S. Immigrant Population by State and County". Migration Policy Institute.
  2. ^ "Ten Largest African-Born Countries of Birth in the United States by Selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas: 2008–2012" (PDF).
  3. ^ "B05006PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES". United States Census Bureau.
  4. ^ Staff Writer. "Here's how many South Africans are leaving for Australia and New Zealand". Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  5. ^ Pinsky, Mark I. (1986-11-30). "Large Exile Community : South African Jews Find Safe Haven in Irvine". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  6. ^ New Streams: Black African Migration to the United States. Posted by Randy Capps, Kristen McCabe, and Michael Fix.
  7. ^ "Table 1. First, Second, and Total Responses to the Ancestry Question by Detailed Ancestry Code: 2000". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  8. ^ Everyculture: South African American. Posted by Judson Knight and Lorna Mabunda. Retrieved September 2, 2012, to 2:50pm.
  9. ^ "U.S. Immigrant Population by State and County". Migration Policy Institute.
  10. ^ "Born in the RSA - and big in the USA". The Mail & Guardian. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  11. ^ "B05006PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ Encyclopedia Chicago.Posted by Tracy Steffes.

External links[edit]

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