View source for South African Americans

{{Short description|Americans of South African birth or descent}}
{{See also|African immigration to the United States}}

{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = South African Americans
| image            = 
| flag             = 
| pop              = 139,322 (2022)
| popplace         = [[Greater Los Angeles]], [[San Diego]], [[Houston]], [[South Florida]], [[New York City|New York]], [[Atlanta]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/us-immigrant-population-state-and-county?width=1000&height=850&iframe=true | title = U.S. Immigrant Population by State and County | website = Migration Policy Institute}}</ref> [[San Francisco]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2014/acs/acsbr12-16_supptab2.pdf|title=Ten Largest African-Born Countries of Birth in the United States by Selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas: 2008–2012}}</ref> [[Maryland]], [[Illinois]]
| langs            = [[South African English]], [[American English]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Afrikaans]], [[Zulu language|Zulu]], [[Tswana language|Tswana]], see [[languages of South Africa]]
| rels             = [[Roman Catholic]], [[Reformed Church]]es, [[Jew]]ish, [[Methodism]], [[Anglicanism]], minority: [[irreligion]]
| related          = {{flatlist|
* [[South African Canadians]]
* [[White Africans of European ancestry|White Africans]]
* [[Zimbabwean Americans]]
* [[Namibian Americans]]
* Other [[African immigration to the United States|African immigrants to the United States]]
 }}
}}

'''South African Americans''' are [[Americans]] who have full or partial ancestry from [[South Africa]]. In 2021, there were approximately 123,461 people born in South Africa who were living in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web |title = B05006PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=B05006&g=010XX00US | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}</ref> There are large populations in [[Southern California]], especially in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] and [[San Diego County]], and the [[Miami, Florida]] area. 

== Demography ==
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.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Staff Writer|title=Here's how many South Africans are leaving for Australia and New Zealand|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/326809/heres-how-many-south-africans-are-leaving-for-australia-and-new-zealand/|access-date=2020-06-23|language=en-US}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africans |url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1167.html |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org}}</ref> 

[[Irvine, California]] has a large population of [[South African Jews]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pinsky  |first=Mark I. |date=1986-11-30|title=Large Exile Community : South African Jews Find Safe Haven in Irvine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-30-me-420-story.html|access-date=2020-06-23|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> 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 [[Bantu peoples in South Africa|Black South Africans]].<ref>[http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/africanmigrationus.pdf New Streams: Black African Migration to the United States]. Posted by Randy Capps, Kristen McCabe, and Michael Fix.</ref> In the [[2000 United States Census|2000 Census]], 509 South African Americans reported their ethnic origins as [[Zulu people|Zulu]].<ref name="2000 US Census">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/ancestry/ancestry_q_by_DAC_2000.xls |title=Table 1. First, Second, and Total Responses to the Ancestry Question by Detailed Ancestry Code: 2000 |access-date=2010-12-02 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

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.<ref name="everycultureSoam">[http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/South-African-Americans.html Everyculture: South African American]. Posted by Judson Knight and Lorna Mabunda. Retrieved September 2, 2012, to 2:50pm.</ref> The highest number of South Africans in the US live in California, notably [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]], [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] and [[San Diego, California|San Diego]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/us-immigrant-population-state-and-county?width=1000&height=850&iframe=true | title = U.S. Immigrant Population by State and County | website = Migration Policy Institute}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-04-19|title=Born in the RSA - and big in the USA|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-04-19-00-born-in-the-rsa-and-big-in-the-usa/|access-date=2020-06-23|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA}}</ref> while smaller populations reside in the [[Mid-Atlantic (United States)|Mid-Atlantic]] and the [[Pacific Northwest]].

===South African-born population===
South African-born population in the US since 2015:<ref>{{cite web |title = B05006PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=B05006&g=010XX00US | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! scope="col" style="width:80px;"|Year
! scope="col" style="width:160px;"|Number
|- align=center
| 2015
| 94,141
|- align=center
| 2016
| {{increase}}104,889
|- align=center
| 2017
| {{increase}}111,720
|- align=center
| 2018
| {{decrease}}99,672
|- align=center
| 2019
| {{increase}}111,116
|- align=center
| 2020
| {{decrease}}108,650
|- align=center
| 2021
| {{increase}}123,461
|- align=center
| 2022
| {{increase}}139,322
|-
|}

== Organizations ==
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. This organization allows the exchange of information through a web site and a mailing list, keeping South Africans informed about international and local events.<ref name="Enchsudam"/>

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.<ref name="Enchsudam">[http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1167.html Encyclopedia Chicago].Posted by Tracy Steffes.</ref>

==Notable people==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Adam Friedland]], comedian
* [[Adam Rose]], professional wrestler
* [[Andrew Parkinson (soccer)|Andrew Parkinson]], soccer player
* [[Andrew Pattison]], tennis player
*[[Ama Qamata]], actress, Activist
* [[Angela Hawken]], academic
* [[Arnold Vosloo]], actor
* [[Ben Viljoen]], Boer general, politician and author
*[[Candice Swanepoel]], Actress, Model 
* [[Candice Pillay]], singer-songwriter
* [[Caron Bernstein]], model and actress
* [[Charlize Theron]], model and actress
* [[Cliff Drysdale]], tennis player
* [[Colin Cowie]], lifestyle guru
* [[Da L.E.S]], hip hop artist and record producer
* [[Daniel Mindel]], cinematographer
* [[Dave Matthews]], musician
* [[Dave Wittenberg]], anime and video game voice actor
* [[David DeCastro]], [[American football]] player
* [[David O. Sacks]], entrepreneur
* [[Denise Scott Brown]], architect and urban planner
* [[Doja Cat]], singer and rapper
* [[Candice Swanepoel]], Model
* [[Earl Sweatshirt]], rapper
* [[Elizabeth Furse]], U.S. politician
* [[Elon Musk]], entrepreneur
* [[Embeth Davidtz]], actress
* [[Gary Barber]], producer
* [[Goapele]], rhythm & blues artist
* [[Gregory Alan Isakov]], singer-songwriter
* [[Jason Lewis (Massachusetts politician)|Jason Lewis]], state legislator
* [[Johan Kriek]], tennis player
* [[Joel Pollak]], political commentator
* [[Jonathan Butler]], musician, guitarist
* [[Jonathan Westphal]], philosopher
* [[Jordan Taylor (racing driver)|Jordan Taylor]], professional racing driver
* [[Julian Krinsky]], American, former South African, professional tennis player
* [[Kongos (band)|Kongos brothers]], musicians
*[[Lesley-Ann Brandt]], Actress 
* [[Liezel Huber]], tennis player
* [[Lyndon Rive]], businessman, cousin of Elon Musk
* [[Madelaine Petsch]], actress
* [[Mark Mathabane]], author
* [[Mike Connell (soccer)|Mike Connell]], professional footballer
* [[Nana Meriwether]], [[Miss USA 2012]]
*[[Nomzamo Mbatha]], Actress & [[Unicef|UNCHR Ambassador]]
* [[Patrick Soon-Shiong]], entrepreneur
* [[P. J. Black|Philip Lloyd]], professional wrestler 
* [[Richard W. Fisher]], politician and banker
* [[Ricky Taylor]], professional racing driver
* [[Robert Hamerton-Kelly]], theologian
* [[Robert Schneider]], musician and producer
* [[Robert Z. Lawrence]], economist
* [[Rodney Howard Browne]], theologian and author
* [[Roy Wegerle]], soccer player
* [[Sasha Pieterse]], actress
* [[Selema Masekela]], sports broadcaster, son of [[Hugh Masekela]]
*[[Sharlto Copley]], actor & director
* [[Stelio Savante]], actor
* [[Stephen Simpson]], professional racing driver
* [[Styles P]], rapper
* [[Tammin Sursok]], actor, singer, composer and guitarist
*[[Thuso Mbedu]], actress
* [[Trevor Denman]], thoroughbred race caller
* [[Trevor Noah]], comedian, TV host
* [[Trevor Rabin]], musician
* [[Tshego]], musician
*[[Victor Nogueira]],soccer goalkeeper
* [[Zinzi Clemmons]], writer
* [[Lesley-Ann Brandt]], actress
{{div end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|South Africa|United States}}
* [[South Africa–United States relations]]
* [[Southern Africans in the United States]]
* [[White South African refugee program]] (2025-since)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/South-African-Americans.html EveryCulture — South African-Americans]

{{South African diaspora}}
{{African immigration to the United States}}
{{Demographics of the United States}}

[[Category:American people of South African descent| ]]
[[Category:South African diaspora in the United States| ]]
[[Category:Southern African diaspora in the United States]]