Which has higher value of imported goods as a share of gdp, Canada or South Africa?

South Africa, at 26.4% against 25.7% in Canada as of 2024.

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

27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.

Where does this data come from?

International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Canada vs South Africa: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP

Canada

25.7%

in 2024

South Africa

26.4%

in 2024

Canada rank

130th

South Africa rank

128th

Value of imported goods as a share of GDP over time

Canada
South Africa

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 26.4% against 25.7% in Canada, a difference of 0.7%.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Canada ahead.

Canada ranks 130th and South Africa ranks 128th of 201 countries.

Canada has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Canada	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1990s	34.0%	18.0%	16.0%	Canada
2000s	28.6%	22.0%	6.6%	Canada
2010s	27.1%	24.5%	2.5%	Canada
2020s	26.1%	25.8%	0.3%	Canada

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher value of imported goods as a share of gdp, Canada or South Africa?: South Africa, at 26.4% against 25.7% in Canada as of 2024.
What is the difference in value of imported goods as a share of gdp between Canada and South Africa?: 0.7%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and South Africa?: 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
How do Canada and South Africa rank globally for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?: Canada ranks 130th and South Africa ranks 128th of 201 countries.
Where does this data come from?: International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Canada vs South Africa: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/merchandise-imports-as-a-share-of-countrys-gdp/canada/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP
Unit: %
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 201 places, 10,161 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Value of a country’s total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).