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

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

How many years of comparable data are there for Italy 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.

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

Italy

25.7%

in 2024

South Africa

26.4%

in 2024

Italy rank

129th

South Africa rank

128th

Value of imported goods as a share of GDP over time

Italy
South Africa

How they compare

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

The two have swapped places 8 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was South Africa ahead.

Italy ranks 129th and South Africa ranks 128th of 201 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Italy averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Italy	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1990s	16.8%	18.0%	1.2%	South Africa
2000s	20.6%	22.0%	1.3%	South Africa
2010s	22.8%	24.5%	1.8%	South Africa
2020s	26.8%	25.8%	1.0%	Italy

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher value of imported goods as a share of gdp, Italy or South Africa?: South Africa, at 26.4% against 25.7% in Italy as of 2024.
What is the difference in value of imported goods as a share of gdp between Italy and South Africa?: 0.7%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?: 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
How do Italy and South Africa rank globally for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?: Italy ranks 129th 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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Italy 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 17 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/merchandise-imports-as-a-share-of-countrys-gdp/italy/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).