South Africa in the GMTI 2026
Southern Africa · Non-OIC destination
South Africa ranks #39 of 150 destinations in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026, with an overall score of 52 out of 100.
Among non-OIC destinations — those outside the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation — South Africa ranks #10. All 150 destinations are evaluated against the same ACES criteria; the non-OIC view helps such destinations benchmark against comparable peers.
South Africa moved down from #38 in the GMTI 2025.
Its strongest ACES pillar is Environment, scoring 60 out of 100.
ACES pillar scores — South Africa, GMTI 2026
The GMTI scores every destination on four pillars: Access, Communication, Environment and Services. Scores are out of 100.
South Africa — GMTI score and rank by year
The GMTI moved to a 0–100 scale in 2015; no edition was published in 2020.
| Year | GMTI Score | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 51.1 | #30 |
| 2016 | 53.1 | #30 |
| 2017 | 53.6 | #30 |
| 2018 | 47.7 | #32 |
| 2019 | 52.3 | #29 |
| 2021 | 51 | #32 |
| 2022 | 45 | #34 |
| 2023 | 46 | #36 |
| 2024 | 47 | #42 |
| 2025 | 52 | #38 |
| 2026 | 52 | #39 |
South Africa — frequently asked questions
Is South Africa a Muslim-friendly travel destination?
According to the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026, South Africa ranks #39 of 150 destinations with an overall score of 52/100 on the ACES framework (Access, Communication, Environment, Services), with Environment as its strongest pillar (60/100).
What is South Africa's GMTI 2026 rank?
South Africa is ranked #39 globally in the GMTI 2026 and #10 among non-OIC destinations. Destinations with equal scores share the same rank.
How has South Africa performed in the GMTI over time?
South Africa has been ranked in the GMTI since 2015, moving from #30 in 2015 to #39 in 2026. The GMTI was not published in 2020.
What are South Africa's ACES scores in the GMTI 2026?
South Africa scores: Access 49, Communication 21, Environment 60, Services 52 (each out of 100). ACES measures Access, Communication, Environment and Services readiness for Muslim travellers.
Source: Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026. How to cite: “Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026, crescentrating.com/insights/gmti”. Data updated June 2026.