Communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Communications, computer, etc. was 36.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service imports, BoP.
Analysis
In 2024, communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 36.0%.
That represents a change of up 3.6% on the previous year and up 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 42.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 26.8%, in 2012.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 30th out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Communications, computer, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of service imports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 37.7% | — |
| 1978 | 33.8% | -10.2% |
| 1979 | 37.6% | +11.3% |
| 1980 | 36.2% | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 33.1% | -8.4% |
| 1982 | 33.7% | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 35.6% | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 35.8% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 38.7% | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 34.1% | -11.9% |
| 1987 | 34.7% | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 32.2% | -7.3% |
| 1989 | 31.7% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 34.4% | +8.5% |
| 1991 | 32.1% | -6.8% |
| 1992 | 32.6% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 37.2% | +14.0% |
| 1994 | 35.5% | -4.6% |
| 1995 | 37.2% | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 40.2% | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 36.4% | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 38.6% | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 39.0% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 38.9% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 42.2% | +8.4% |
| 2002 | 37.0% | -12.3% |
| 2003 | 34.7% | -6.3% |
| 2004 | 29.8% | -14.1% |
| 2005 | 31.4% | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 33.1% | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 31.3% | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 27.9% | -10.9% |
| 2009 | 31.5% | +12.7% |
| 2010 | 30.3% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 28.0% | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 26.8% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 32.0% | +19.4% |
| 2014 | 31.9% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 33.1% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 33.5% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 34.9% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 37.3% | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 38.2% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 42.1% | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 36.5% | -13.3% |
| 2022 | 29.4% | -19.2% |
| 2023 | 34.8% | +18.1% |
| 2024 | 36.0% | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 36.4% | 33.8% | 37.7% | 3 |
| 1980s | 34.6% | 31.7% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.3% | 32.1% | 40.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.8% | 27.9% | 42.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.6% | 26.8% | 38.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.8% | 29.4% | 42.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2311 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 407.9 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2438 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2382 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per capita 384.35 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2788 current 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 36.0% 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 42.2% in 2001.
- What is the lowest communications, computer, etc. recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.8% in 2012.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for communications, computer, etc.?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 30th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is communications, computer, etc. rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.8%. 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 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.