South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Trade as a share of GDP
South Africa
60.9%
in 2025
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
62.5%
in 2025
South Africa rank
132nd
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
130th
Trade as a share of GDP over time
- South Africa
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 62.5% against 60.9% in South Africa, a difference of 1.6%.
The two have swapped places 10 times across 56 shared years of data; in 1970 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
South Africa ranks 132nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 130th of 191 countries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 46.3% | 51.2% | 4.9% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1980s | 46.8% | 50.8% | 4.0% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1990s | 39.1% | 49.4% | 10.3% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2000s | 51.4% | 53.0% | 1.6% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2010s | 55.4% | 61.5% | 6.1% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 60.0% | 62.9% | 2.8% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher trade as a share of gdp, South Africa or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 62.5% against 60.9% in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in trade as a share of gdp between South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 1.6%, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for trade as a share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 132nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 130th 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 Trade as a share of GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Trade in goods and services as a share of GDP, shown as a percentage.