Iraq vs South Africa: External balance on goods and services
External balance on goods and services over time
- Iraq
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 8.16 billion current US$ against 6.68 billion current US$ in Iraq, a difference of 1.48 billion current US$.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Iraq's.
The two have swapped places 11 times across 55 shared years of data; in 1970 it was Iraq ahead.
Iraq ranks 39th and South Africa ranks 37th of 193 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Iraq averaged higher in 4 and South Africa in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iraq | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.25 billion current US$ | 855.74 million current US$ | 2.39 billion current US$ | Iraq |
| 1980s | -2.82 billion current US$ | 3.94 billion current US$ | 6.76 billion current US$ | South Africa |
| 1990s | 1.60 billion current US$ | 3.56 billion current US$ | 1.96 billion current US$ | South Africa |
| 2000s | 6.45 billion current US$ | 408.99 million current US$ | 6.04 billion current US$ | Iraq |
| 2010s | 18.96 billion current US$ | -618.51 million current US$ | 19.58 billion current US$ | Iraq |
| 2020s | 22.97 billion current US$ | 12.12 billion current US$ | 10.85 billion current US$ | Iraq |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher external balance on goods and services, Iraq or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 8.16 billion current US$ against 6.68 billion current US$ in Iraq as of 2025.
- What is the difference in external balance on goods and services between Iraq and South Africa?
- 1.48 billion current US$, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iraq and South Africa?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
- How do Iraq and South Africa rank globally for external balance on goods and services?
- Iraq ranks 39th and South Africa ranks 37th of 193 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as External balance on goods and services (current US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.