How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?

56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Italy vs South Africa: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP

Italy

1.9%

in 2025

South Africa

1.9%

in 2025

Italy rank

64th

South Africa rank

65th

External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP over time

Italy
South Africa

How they compare

Italy currently reports 1.9% against 1.9% in South Africa, a difference of 0.0%.

The two have swapped places 10 times across 56 shared years of data; in 1970 it was Italy ahead.

Italy ranks 64th and South Africa ranks 65th of 191 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, Italy averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 5.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Italy	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1970s	-0.1%	1.3%	1.4%	South Africa
1980s	-0.4%	4.5%	4.9%	South Africa
1990s	2.3%	2.5%	0.1%	South Africa
2000s	0.1%	0.7%	0.6%	South Africa
2010s	1.7%	-0.2%	1.9%	Italy
2020s	1.5%	2.9%	1.4%	South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp, Italy or South Africa?: Italy, at 1.9% against 1.9% in South Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp between Italy and South Africa?: 0.0%, with Italy ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?: 56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
How do Italy and South Africa rank globally for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?: Italy ranks 64th and South Africa ranks 65th of 191 countries.
Where does this data come from?: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Italy vs South Africa: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid, drawing on National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/external-balance-on-goods-and-services-as-a-percent-of-gdp/italy/south-africa/

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<a href="https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/external-balance-on-goods-and-services-as-a-percent-of-gdp/italy/south-africa/">Italy vs South Africa: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP
Unit: % of GDP
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 191 places, 9,006 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.