More than a million South Africans live outside the country, with over half settled in Australia, the UK and the US — and a lot of them are quietly craving a packet of Nik Naks. New research from 2026 puts South Africa second only to the Philippines on the global homesickness ranking, with a striking 96.1% of expats admitting they feel the pull of home.

The numbers come from a Remitly study, backed up by a University of Cape Town survey of more than 1,500 South Africans spread across 73 countries. Topping the list, unsurprisingly, is family: 80% of expats miss theirs, and The TEFL Academy's separate research found over 77% longed for family and lifelong friends. Close behind are friends (62%) and home food and drink (54%) — think biltong, boerewors and a proper braai rather than anything fancy.

The more specific cravings are telling. UCT's Diaspora Report found Woolworths, the Spur restaurant chain and Nik Naks crisps are among the most-missed brands. Language plays a part too: around 36% miss hearing their own languages day to day, and anyone who has spent time in South Africa will understand why expressions like 'lekker', 'eish' and 'now now' don't survive translation.

Culture and climate weigh heavily as well. Nearly 67% of respondents in the TEFL Academy research missed South African humour, warmth and social culture, while more than 55% longed for the outdoor lifestyle — beach weekends and braais under the stars. In Remitly's study, 34% specifically cited the weather.

One less obvious entry: 30% simply miss knowing how things work. Moving abroad means relearning banking, healthcare and everyday admin from scratch. And a final, very human 27% just miss their own bed.

So will all this homesickness bring people home? Not mostly — UCT's survey found just 17% of South Africans abroad plan to return. But for travellers, the story doubles as a genuine insider's guide to what makes the country tick: it's the food, the slang, the easy warmth of strangers and the sunshine, not the postcard sights, that people can't shake. If you're planning a trip, those are the things to lean into — book a table where locals braai, learn a few words of the lingo, and expect to be chatted to by people you've never met. And if you're a South African reading this from London or Sydney, the research suggests a visit home might be overdue.