South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Trade

South Africa
60.9%
in 2025
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
62.5%
in 2025
South Africa rank
134th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
132nd

Trade over time

  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
0204060196019922025

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 134th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 132nd of 193 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, 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 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?
South Africa ranks 134th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 132nd of 193 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as Trade (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Trade. Statizoid, drawing on Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/trade-percent-of-gdp/south-africa/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Trade (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
236 places, 11,229 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Trade is the sum of exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.