Changes in inventories in South Africa
South Africa: Changes in inventories was -32.53 million current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-32.53 million current US$
Change on year
up 98.2%
World rank
148th
of 186 countries
All-time high
6.07 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
-4.91 billion current US$
in 2020
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Changes in inventories in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, changes in inventories in South Africa stood at -32.53 million current US$.
The figure is up 98.2% on the previous year and down 101.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, changes in inventories in South Africa peaked at 6.07 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, -4.91 billion current US$, in 2020.
That places South Africa 148th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Changes in inventories in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 162.40 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 152.60 million current US$ | -6.0% |
| 1962 | 130.20 million current US$ | -14.7% |
| 1963 | 327.60 million current US$ | +151.6% |
| 1964 | 315.00 million current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 274.40 million current US$ | -12.9% |
| 1966 | 84.00 million current US$ | -69.4% |
| 1967 | 648.20 million current US$ | +671.7% |
| 1968 | 450.80 million current US$ | -30.5% |
| 1969 | 589.40 million current US$ | +30.7% |
| 1970 | 604.80 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 848.69 million current US$ | +40.3% |
| 1972 | -225.05 million current US$ | -126.5% |
| 1973 | 126.81 million current US$ | -156.3% |
| 1974 | 1.47 billion current US$ | +1060.6% |
| 1975 | 511.15 million current US$ | -65.3% |
| 1976 | -630.20 million current US$ | -223.3% |
| 1977 | -465.75 million current US$ | -26.1% |
| 1978 | -594.55 million current US$ | +27.7% |
| 1979 | -117.57 million current US$ | -80.2% |
| 1980 | 2.96 billion current US$ | -2615.0% |
| 1981 | 4.27 billion current US$ | +44.3% |
| 1982 | -1.93 billion current US$ | -145.3% |
| 1983 | -657.93 million current US$ | -65.9% |
| 1984 | 141.67 million current US$ | -121.5% |
| 1985 | -1.50 billion current US$ | -1158.8% |
| 1986 | -470.89 million current US$ | -68.6% |
| 1987 | -1.59 billion current US$ | +237.6% |
| 1988 | 292.94 million current US$ | -118.4% |
| 1989 | 395.02 million current US$ | +34.8% |
| 1990 | -1.77 billion current US$ | -547.8% |
| 1991 | -34.77 million current US$ | -98.0% |
| 1992 | -961.43 million current US$ | +2665.4% |
| 1993 | -863.90 million current US$ | -10.1% |
| 1994 | 2.27 billion current US$ | -363.3% |
| 1995 | 3.43 billion current US$ | +50.8% |
| 1996 | 1.25 billion current US$ | -63.7% |
| 1997 | 243.28 million current US$ | -80.5% |
| 1998 | -131.69 million current US$ | -154.1% |
| 1999 | 1.23 billion current US$ | -1036.3% |
| 2000 | 1.02 billion current US$ | -17.1% |
| 2001 | 285.05 million current US$ | -72.1% |
| 2002 | 1.30 billion current US$ | +356.9% |
| 2003 | 1.97 billion current US$ | +51.3% |
| 2004 | 4.59 billion current US$ | +132.8% |
| 2005 | 2.75 billion current US$ | -40.0% |
| 2006 | 3.42 billion current US$ | +24.1% |
| 2007 | 1.01 billion current US$ | -70.3% |
| 2008 | -1.04 billion current US$ | -202.2% |
| 2009 | -2.39 billion current US$ | +130.5% |
| 2010 | 141.94 million current US$ | -105.9% |
| 2011 | 4.78 billion current US$ | +3269.7% |
| 2012 | 2.82 billion current US$ | -41.0% |
| 2013 | 2.37 billion current US$ | -16.2% |
| 2014 | 711.95 million current US$ | -69.9% |
| 2015 | 2.16 billion current US$ | +204.0% |
| 2016 | -1.56 billion current US$ | -171.9% |
| 2017 | 808.40 million current US$ | -151.9% |
| 2018 | 1.01 billion current US$ | +24.5% |
| 2019 | 1.37 billion current US$ | +36.1% |
| 2020 | -4.91 billion current US$ | -458.5% |
| 2021 | -1.15 billion current US$ | -76.5% |
| 2022 | 6.07 billion current US$ | -627.0% |
| 2023 | 1.74 billion current US$ | -71.3% |
| 2024 | -1.81 billion current US$ | -204.1% |
| 2025 | -32.53 million current US$ | -98.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -32.53 million current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 259.88 million current US$. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -32.53 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 21.74 million current US$. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Changes in inventories in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +3269.7% | 141.94 million current US$ | 4.78 billion current US$ |
| 1992 | -2665.4% | -34.77 million current US$ | -961.43 million current US$ |
| 1980 | +2615.0% | -117.57 million current US$ | 2.96 billion current US$ |
| 1985 | -1158.8% | 141.67 million current US$ | -1.50 billion current US$ |
| 1974 | +1060.6% | 126.81 million current US$ | 1.47 billion current US$ |
| 1999 | +1036.3% | -131.69 million current US$ | 1.23 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 313.46 million current US$ | 84.00 million current US$ | 648.20 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 153.01 million current US$ | -630.20 million current US$ | 1.47 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 190.29 million current US$ | -1.93 billion current US$ | 4.27 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 466.67 million current US$ | -1.77 billion current US$ | 3.43 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.29 billion current US$ | -2.39 billion current US$ | 4.59 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.46 billion current US$ | -1.56 billion current US$ | 4.78 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -15.90 million current US$ | -4.91 billion current US$ | 6.07 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 145 New Caledonia -9.31 million current US$ compare
- 146 French Polynesia -10.57 million current US$ compare
- 147 American Samoa -29.00 million current US$ compare
- 149 Iceland -33.81 million current US$ compare
- 150 Belize -43.13 million current US$ compare
- 151 Eswatini -53.36 million current US$ 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is changes in inventories in South Africa?
- Changes in inventories in South Africa was -32.53 million current US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest changes in inventories recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.07 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest changes in inventories recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.91 billion current US$ in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for changes in inventories?
- South Africa ranks 148th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is changes in inventories rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 101.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Changes in inventories (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Changes in inventories is the value of entries into inventories less the value of withdrawals and less the value of any recurrent losses of goods held in inventories during the accounting period.This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.