Communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Communications, computer, etc. was 24.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1978–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service exports, BoP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa is 24.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.7% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 35.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 21.5%, in 2005.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 37th out of 45 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 47 years of available data.
Communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of service exports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 26.3% | — |
| 1979 | 23.5% | -10.8% |
| 1980 | 24.2% | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 29.5% | +21.8% |
| 1982 | 28.1% | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 27.4% | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 27.8% | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 33.8% | +21.8% |
| 1986 | 30.5% | -9.7% |
| 1987 | 30.7% | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 29.6% | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 34.9% | +17.8% |
| 1990 | 35.4% | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 33.9% | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 35.2% | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 34.5% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 29.3% | -15.0% |
| 1995 | 27.7% | -5.6% |
| 1996 | 26.5% | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 25.0% | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 24.6% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 27.8% | +12.7% |
| 2000 | 32.7% | +17.8% |
| 2001 | 32.1% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 34.3% | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 29.7% | -13.5% |
| 2004 | 28.8% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 21.5% | -25.5% |
| 2006 | 24.0% | +11.6% |
| 2007 | 22.8% | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 26.1% | +14.4% |
| 2009 | 26.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 24.9% | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 27.9% | +12.2% |
| 2012 | 26.2% | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 26.5% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 31.0% | +17.3% |
| 2016 | 29.9% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 29.5% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 27.1% | -8.2% |
| 2019 | 27.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 33.8% | +25.2% |
| 2021 | 32.7% | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 26.2% | -19.7% |
| 2023 | 25.6% | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 24.6% | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.9% | 23.5% | 26.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 29.7% | 24.2% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.0% | 24.6% | 35.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.8% | 21.5% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.7% | 24.9% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.6% | 24.6% | 33.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 34 Burkina Faso 46.9% compare
- 35 Korea 46.9% compare
- 36 Serbia 46.5% compare
- 37 Republic of Moldova 46.1% compare
- 38 Switzerland 45.8% compare
- 39 Brazil 45.8% compare
- 40 Nepal 45.6% compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9902 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 466.42 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 1,657 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2516 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa was 24.6% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest communications, computer, etc. recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest communications, computer, etc. recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.5% in 2005.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for communications, computer, etc.?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 37th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is communications, computer, etc. rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Communications, computer, etc. (% of service exports, BoP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Communications, computer, information, and other services cover international telecommunications; computer data; news-related service transactions between residents and nonresidents; construction services; royalties and license fees; miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services; personal, cultural, and recreational services; manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others; and maintenance and repair services and government services not included elsewhere. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service exports which are services provided by residents to non-residents.