Ireland vs South Africa: External balance on goods and services
External balance on goods and services over time
- Ireland
- South Africa
How they compare
Ireland currently reports 256.59 billion current LCU against 145.90 billion current LCU in South Africa, a difference of 110.68 billion current LCU.
That makes Ireland's figure about 1.8 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 12 times across 56 shared years of data; in 1970 it was Ireland ahead.
Ireland ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 32nd of 193 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Ireland averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ireland | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -603.21 million current LCU | 749.60 million current LCU | 1.35 billion current LCU | South Africa |
| 1980s | -152.72 million current LCU | 7.75 billion current LCU | 7.90 billion current LCU | South Africa |
| 1990s | 5.74 billion current LCU | 12.65 billion current LCU | 6.91 billion current LCU | South Africa |
| 2000s | 19.07 billion current LCU | 5.15 billion current LCU | 13.92 billion current LCU | Ireland |
| 2010s | 48.61 billion current LCU | -5.17 billion current LCU | 53.78 billion current LCU | Ireland |
| 2020s | 191.46 billion current LCU | 186.50 billion current LCU | 4.97 billion current LCU | Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher external balance on goods and services, Ireland or South Africa?
- Ireland, at 256.59 billion current LCU against 145.90 billion current LCU in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in external balance on goods and services between Ireland and South Africa?
- 110.68 billion current LCU, with Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ireland and South Africa?
- 56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do Ireland and South Africa rank globally for external balance on goods and services?
- Ireland ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 32nd of 193 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.