Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), annual growth rate was 1.13 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.13 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 140.1%
World rank
128th
of 178 countries
All-time high
15.77 % change on previous year
in 1972
All-time low
-17.9 % change on previous year
in 1981
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa stood at 1.13 % change on previous year.
The figure is up 140.1% on the previous year and down 79.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 15.77 % change on previous year in 1972 and was at its lowest, -17.9 % change on previous year, in 1981.
South Africa ranks 128th of 178 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.86 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 4.7 % change on previous year | +21.7% |
| 1963 | 3.62 % change on previous year | -22.9% |
| 1964 | 7.7 % change on previous year | +112.5% |
| 1965 | -1.98 % change on previous year | -125.7% |
| 1966 | 1.57 % change on previous year | -179.5% |
| 1967 | 8.05 % change on previous year | +411.4% |
| 1968 | 10.69 % change on previous year | +32.8% |
| 1969 | 1.98 % change on previous year | -81.5% |
| 1970 | -3.29 % change on previous year | -265.9% |
| 1971 | 7.35 % change on previous year | -323.7% |
| 1972 | 15.77 % change on previous year | +114.5% |
| 1973 | 11.56 % change on previous year | -26.7% |
| 1974 | 4.7 % change on previous year | -59.3% |
| 1975 | -9.41 % change on previous year | -300.0% |
| 1976 | -6.12 % change on previous year | -34.9% |
| 1977 | 8.03 % change on previous year | -231.2% |
| 1978 | 5.37 % change on previous year | -33.2% |
| 1979 | 7.26 % change on previous year | +35.2% |
| 1980 | 12.73 % change on previous year | +75.4% |
| 1981 | -17.9 % change on previous year | -240.6% |
| 1982 | -12.88 % change on previous year | -28.1% |
| 1983 | 0.3403 % change on previous year | -102.6% |
| 1984 | 9.56 % change on previous year | +2710.9% |
| 1985 | 11.13 % change on previous year | +16.3% |
| 1986 | -1.58 % change on previous year | -114.2% |
| 1987 | 9.61 % change on previous year | -707.9% |
| 1988 | 5.49 % change on previous year | -42.9% |
| 1989 | -2.71 % change on previous year | -149.3% |
| 1990 | -2.55 % change on previous year | -5.9% |
| 1991 | -1.6 % change on previous year | -37.3% |
| 1992 | 4.42 % change on previous year | -376.9% |
| 1993 | 9.46 % change on previous year | +114.0% |
| 1994 | 2.41 % change on previous year | -74.6% |
| 1995 | 8.16 % change on previous year | +239.3% |
| 1996 | 12.44 % change on previous year | +52.4% |
| 1997 | 3.73 % change on previous year | -70.0% |
| 1998 | 1.74 % change on previous year | -53.4% |
| 1999 | -2.45 % change on previous year | -241.0% |
| 2000 | 5.77 % change on previous year | -335.0% |
| 2001 | 3.53 % change on previous year | -38.7% |
| 2002 | 3.56 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 4.36 % change on previous year | +22.7% |
| 2004 | 4.74 % change on previous year | +8.6% |
| 2005 | 10.44 % change on previous year | +120.1% |
| 2006 | 12.62 % change on previous year | +20.9% |
| 2007 | 11.15 % change on previous year | -11.6% |
| 2008 | 2.59 % change on previous year | -76.8% |
| 2009 | -12.6 % change on previous year | -586.7% |
| 2010 | 14.26 % change on previous year | -213.2% |
| 2011 | 9.82 % change on previous year | -31.2% |
| 2012 | -3.61 % change on previous year | -136.8% |
| 2013 | 1.47 % change on previous year | -140.7% |
| 2014 | 1.48 % change on previous year | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 5.52 % change on previous year | +274.2% |
| 2016 | 2 % change on previous year | -63.9% |
| 2017 | 4.27 % change on previous year | +114.0% |
| 2018 | 1.02 % change on previous year | -76.2% |
| 2019 | 0.5653 % change on previous year | -44.4% |
| 2020 | -3.78 % change on previous year | -768.8% |
| 2021 | 15.2 % change on previous year | -502.0% |
| 2022 | -1.7 % change on previous year | -111.2% |
| 2023 | -0.1872 % change on previous year | -89.0% |
| 2024 | -2.82 % change on previous year | +1403.9% |
| 2025 | 1.13 % change on previous year | -140.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.13 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.43 % change on previous year, 21% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.13 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.47 % change on previous year, 21% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +2710.9% | 0.3403 % change on previous year | 9.56 % change on previous year |
| 2024 | -1403.9% | -0.1872 % change on previous year | -2.82 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.47 % change on previous year | -1.98 % change on previous year | 10.69 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.12 % change on previous year | -9.41 % change on previous year | 15.77 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.38 % change on previous year | -17.9 % change on previous year | 12.73 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.58 % change on previous year | -2.55 % change on previous year | 12.44 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.62 % change on previous year | -12.6 % change on previous year | 12.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.68 % change on previous year | -3.61 % change on previous year | 14.26 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.31 % change on previous year | -3.78 % change on previous year | 15.2 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 125 Luxembourg 1.5 % change on previous year compare
- 126 Slovenia 1.22 % change on previous year compare
- 127 Denmark 1.17 % change on previous year compare
- 129 Latvia 0.9143 % change on previous year compare
- 130 Kazakhstan 0.7508 % change on previous year compare
- 131 Kenya 0.396 % change on previous year 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 exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa was 1.13 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.77 % change on previous year in 1972.
- What is the lowest exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.9 % change on previous year in 1981.
- How does South Africa rank for exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 128th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Exports as a capacity to import Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.