Annual growth of imports of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Annual growth of imports of goods and services was -6.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth of imports of goods and services in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -6.4% for annual growth of imports of goods and services in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 263.1% on the previous year and down 829.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of imports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 18.3% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -17.7%, in 2009.
That places South Africa 161st out of 176 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth of imports of goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.3% | — |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -95.3% |
| 2002 | 5.3% | +2036.0% |
| 2003 | 8.1% | +51.3% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | +92.0% |
| 2005 | 10.9% | -29.9% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | +67.8% |
| 2007 | 9.4% | -48.7% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | -70.0% |
| 2009 | -17.7% | -728.5% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | -161.1% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | +9.7% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | -67.3% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | -0.7% | -117.1% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | -830.4% |
| 2016 | -4.1% | -181.9% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | -137.0% |
| 2018 | 3.5% | +127.5% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | -84.2% |
| 2020 | -17.6% | -3294.5% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | -155.2% |
| 2022 | 15.0% | +54.3% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -73.7% |
| 2024 | -6.4% | -263.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -6.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.5%. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -6.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.0%. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth of imports of goods and services in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -3294.5% | 0.6% | -17.6% |
| 2002 | +2036.0% | 0.2% | 5.3% |
| 2015 | +830.4% | -0.7% | 5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.8% | -17.7% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | -4.1% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | -17.6% | 15.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 158 Bangladesh -4.6% compare
- 159 Palau -4.8% compare
- 160 Djibouti -5.5% compare
- 162 Turkmenistan -7.3% compare
- 163 Syrian Arab Republic -7.6% compare
- 164 United States Virgin Islands -9.4% compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth of imports of goods and services in South Africa?
- Annual growth of imports of goods and services in South Africa was -6.4% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.3% in 2006.
- What is the lowest annual growth of imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.7% in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for annual growth of imports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 161st out of 176 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual growth of imports of goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 829.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of imports of goods and services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual growth of imports of goods and services (%).