South Africans abroad rank among the world’s most homesick

There’s a moment that hits many South Africans living overseas, often when you least expect it.

It might be the smell of a braai drifting through a neighbour’s yard that isn’t quite right, a missed December holiday spent far from the coast, or the quiet realisation that no one around you understands just how important a Sunday family lunch really is.

Moving abroad is often sold as a dream. New cities, new opportunities, a fresh start. And while many South Africans thrive in that environment, there’s a deeper emotional thread that doesn’t always get talked about: homesickness.

A recent study by Remitly has put numbers to that feeling, and South Africans are right near the top.

South Africans rank among the most homesick globally

According to the survey, which gathered responses from more than 3 100 people living abroad, a striking 96% of South Africans reported feeling homesick. That places the country just behind the Philippines, tying it with nations like Canada and Mexico, and ahead of Brazil.

It’s not entirely surprising when you consider what ‘home’ means in a South African context. It’s not just about where you live, it’s about people, rhythm, and shared cultural experience.

From spontaneous get-togethers to big family celebrations, South Africans tend to build their lives around connection, festivities and cuisine. When that disappears, even temporarily, it leaves a gap.

More than half of those surveyed (54%) said food and drink are the things they miss most.

For South Africans, that goes far beyond taste. It’s the ritual of it all, the braai conversations that stretch for hours, the comfort of familiar flavours, the way meals bring people together without needing a formal invitation.

You can find substitutes abroad, sure. There are South African shops in cities like London, Perth and Dubai. But it’s rarely the same.

Because it’s not just about what’s on the table, it’s about who’s sitting around it.

Another thread that stood out in the research is how people try to maintain ties with home.

Many South Africans living abroad regularly send money back to their families – not just as a means of financial support, but also as a way of staying involved in birthdays, school fees, emergencies and celebrations.

In a sense, it becomes a bridge between two worlds. You may be physically distant, but you’re still part of the story back home.

If you scroll through TikTok or Instagram, you’ll find countless South Africans abroad sharing snippets of this experience: videos of the first bites of biltong after months away. Emotional airport reunions. Jokes about explaining South African slang to confused coworkers.

There’s humour in it, but also honesty, with one common theme that underlines them all: ‘I didn’t realise how South African I was until I left.’

Homesickness isn’t unique to one country, but it can feel more intense depending on what you’re leaving behind.

In South Africa, lifestyle plays a big role. Outdoor living, diverse cultures, strong family ties, and a deep sense of multi-layered identities all combine to create something that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

Even things people once took for granted, the weather, the language mix, the casual friendliness, suddenly become irreplaceable.

The study also explored whether small comforts can ease homesickness. Something as simple as a familiar drink or routine can help people feel grounded.

But the reality is more complex.

You can recreate pieces of home, but not the full picture. And maybe that’s the point, homesickness isn’t something to ‘fix,’ it’s something that reflects how much a place, and its people, matter.

For South Africans abroad, homesickness isn’t a sign of regret. It’s often a sign of a deep connection.

Yes, there’s excitement in building a life somewhere new. But there’s also a quiet loyalty to where you come from, one that shows up in the foods you crave, the people you miss, and the stories you keep telling.

And according to the numbers, it’s a feeling almost every South African abroad knows all too well.

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