Diversity Visa lottery
How many people from South Africa entered the lottery and how many were selected, every year with data.
Source: U.S. Department of State, Diversity Visa Program statistics · Unofficial
“Entries” are the people who registered. “With family” adds spouses and children listed on their entries. “Rough odds” is entries divided by people selected, a guide only: nobody's own chance can be worked out from it.
| DV year | Entries | With family | Selected | Rough odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DV 2026 | – | – | 187 | – |
| DV 2025 | – | – | 163 | – |
| DV 2024 | – | – | 199 | – |
| DV 2023 | – | – | 222 | – |
| DV 2022 | – | – | 497 | – |
| DV 2021 | 15,701 | 37,319 | 510 | 1 in 31 |
| DV 2020 | 23,574 | 56,494 | 162 | 1 in 146 |
| DV 2019 | 26,924 | 62,965 | 454 | 1 in 59 |
| DV 2018 | 28,775 | 67,344 | 500 | 1 in 58 |
| DV 2017 | 28,518 | 66,728 | 427 | 1 in 67 |
| DV 2016 | 27,124 | 62,062 | 535 | 1 in 51 |
| DV 2015 | 23,589 | 52,168 | 924 | 1 in 26 |
| DV 2014 | 24,679 | 56,356 | 1,038 | 1 in 24 |
| DV 2013 | 21,269 | 47,672 | 956 | 1 in 22 |
| DV 2012 | 21,523 | 48,570 | 833 | 1 in 26 |
| DV 2011 | 22,249 | 50,144 | 963 | 1 in 23 |
| DV 2010 | 18,013 | 40,208 | – | – |
| DV 2009 | 18,086 | 38,159 | – | – |
| DV 2008 | 14,646 | 30,214 | – | – |
| DV 2007 | 11,729 | 23,162 | – | – |
A dash means the State Department did not publish that number. A country marked “N/A” was not eligible that year.
187 people from South Africa were selected in DV 2026, the latest year with results. Being selected is not a visa: it only gives the chance to apply.
Visa Status is an unofficial site and does not give immigration advice. The only official place to register is the State Department's Diversity Visa website; registration is free.