Communications, computer, etc. in South Africa
South Africa: Communications, computer, etc. was 44.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Communications, computer, etc. in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service imports, BoP.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 44.9% for communications, computer, etc. in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, communications, computer, etc. in South Africa peaked at 51.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 1960.
That places South Africa 56th out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Communications, computer, etc. in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of service imports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 12.8% | — |
| 1961 | 13.4% | +4.1% |
| 1962 | 17.8% | +33.1% |
| 1963 | 20.9% | +17.4% |
| 1964 | 19.4% | -7.1% |
| 1965 | 21.8% | +12.2% |
| 1966 | 26.2% | +20.5% |
| 1967 | 26.2% | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 27.4% | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 24.8% | -9.4% |
| 1970 | 21.6% | -13.2% |
| 1971 | 21.5% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 23.8% | +10.5% |
| 1973 | 23.0% | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 16.2% | -29.7% |
| 1975 | 22.5% | +38.9% |
| 1976 | 22.3% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 29.1% | +30.5% |
| 1978 | 31.3% | +7.9% |
| 1979 | 26.0% | -16.9% |
| 1980 | 25.0% | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 21.5% | -13.8% |
| 1982 | 22.8% | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 25.1% | +10.4% |
| 1984 | 23.3% | -7.4% |
| 1985 | 23.7% | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 21.9% | -7.6% |
| 1987 | 21.9% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 19.7% | -10.1% |
| 1989 | 21.2% | +7.6% |
| 1990 | 19.7% | -7.1% |
| 1991 | 18.9% | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 17.0% | -10.0% |
| 1993 | 16.4% | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 15.8% | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 16.8% | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 19.6% | +16.6% |
| 1997 | 17.5% | -11.0% |
| 1998 | 18.4% | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 16.6% | -9.5% |
| 2000 | 16.0% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 18.3% | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 19.9% | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 19.6% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 21.5% | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 22.9% | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 24.0% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 24.6% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 25.6% | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 31.7% | +23.8% |
| 2010 | 31.7% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 31.4% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 32.4% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 35.2% | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 34.6% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 37.0% | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 41.5% | +12.1% |
| 2017 | 40.0% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 37.8% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 39.7% | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 51.9% | +30.6% |
| 2021 | 49.5% | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 39.7% | -19.8% |
| 2023 | 43.1% | +8.5% |
| 2024 | 44.0% | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 44.9% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 21.1% | 12.8% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 23.7% | 16.2% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.6% | 19.7% | 25.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.7% | 15.8% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.4% | 16.0% | 31.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.1% | 31.4% | 41.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.5% | 39.7% | 51.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 53 Portugal 45.2% compare
- 54 Mauritania 45.1% compare
- 55 South Sudan 44.9% compare
- 57 Slovenia 44.7% compare
- 58 Denmark 44.7% compare
- 59 North Macedonia 44.2% 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 6.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1367 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 901.96 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1889 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,246 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 3.38 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is communications, computer, etc. in South Africa?
- Communications, computer, etc. in South Africa was 44.9% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest communications, computer, etc. recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest communications, computer, etc. recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for communications, computer, etc.?
- South Africa ranks 56th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is communications, computer, etc. rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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 imports, 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 imports which are services provided by non-residents to residents.