Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), per capita was 21,851 constant LCU per person in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
21,851 constant LCU per person
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
101st
of 179 countries
All-time high
23,855 constant LCU per person
in 2021
All-time low
9,782 constant LCU per person
in 1983
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), per capita in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant LCU per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per capita in South Africa is 21,851 constant LCU per person, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per capita in South Africa peaked at 23,855 constant LCU per person in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9,782 constant LCU per person, in 1983.
That places South Africa 101st out of 179 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.
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant LCU per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11,207 constant LCU per person | — |
| 1961 | 11,318 constant LCU per person | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 11,502 constant LCU per person | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 11,563 constant LCU per person | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 12,079 constant LCU per person | +4.5% |
| 1965 | 11,481 constant LCU per person | -4.9% |
| 1966 | 11,306 constant LCU per person | -1.5% |
| 1967 | 11,841 constant LCU per person | +4.7% |
| 1968 | 12,705 constant LCU per person | +7.3% |
| 1969 | 12,563 constant LCU per person | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 11,787 constant LCU per person | -6.2% |
| 1971 | 12,289 constant LCU per person | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 13,825 constant LCU per person | +12.5% |
| 1973 | 14,987 constant LCU per person | +8.4% |
| 1974 | 15,256 constant LCU per person | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 13,443 constant LCU per person | -11.9% |
| 1976 | 12,284 constant LCU per person | -8.6% |
| 1977 | 12,916 constant LCU per person | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 13,242 constant LCU per person | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 13,824 constant LCU per person | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 15,116 constant LCU per person | +9.3% |
| 1981 | 11,995 constant LCU per person | -20.6% |
| 1982 | 10,096 constant LCU per person | -15.8% |
| 1983 | 9,782 constant LCU per person | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 10,353 constant LCU per person | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 11,127 constant LCU per person | +7.5% |
| 1986 | 10,607 constant LCU per person | -4.7% |
| 1987 | 11,269 constant LCU per person | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 11,531 constant LCU per person | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 10,894 constant LCU per person | -5.5% |
| 1990 | 10,325 constant LCU per person | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 9,931 constant LCU per person | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 10,185 constant LCU per person | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 10,928 constant LCU per person | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 11,012 constant LCU per person | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 11,767 constant LCU per person | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 13,060 constant LCU per person | +11.0% |
| 1997 | 13,387 constant LCU per person | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 13,456 constant LCU per person | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 12,983 constant LCU per person | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 13,607 constant LCU per person | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 13,967 constant LCU per person | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 14,328 constant LCU per person | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 14,805 constant LCU per person | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 15,351 constant LCU per person | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 16,783 constant LCU per person | +9.3% |
| 2006 | 18,709 constant LCU per person | +11.5% |
| 2007 | 20,577 constant LCU per person | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 20,868 constant LCU per person | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 18,023 constant LCU per person | -13.6% |
| 2010 | 20,351 constant LCU per person | +12.9% |
| 2011 | 22,074 constant LCU per person | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 20,965 constant LCU per person | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 20,925 constant LCU per person | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 20,884 constant LCU per person | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 21,599 constant LCU per person | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 21,824 constant LCU per person | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 22,607 constant LCU per person | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 22,456 constant LCU per person | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 22,213 constant LCU per person | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 21,030 constant LCU per person | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 23,855 constant LCU per person | +13.4% |
| 2022 | 23,120 constant LCU per person | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 22,773 constant LCU per person | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 21,857 constant LCU per person | -4.0% |
| 2025 | 21,851 constant LCU per person | -0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 21,851 constant LCU per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34,332 constant LCU per person, 64% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 21,851 constant LCU per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72,222 constant LCU per person, 30% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11,756 constant LCU per person | 11,207 constant LCU per person | 12,705 constant LCU per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 13,385 constant LCU per person | 11,787 constant LCU per person | 15,256 constant LCU per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,277 constant LCU per person | 9,782 constant LCU per person | 15,116 constant LCU per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 11,703 constant LCU per person | 9,931 constant LCU per person | 13,456 constant LCU per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,702 constant LCU per person | 13,607 constant LCU per person | 20,868 constant LCU per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,590 constant LCU per person | 20,351 constant LCU per person | 22,607 constant LCU per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,414 constant LCU per person | 21,030 constant LCU per person | 23,855 constant LCU per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 98 Botswana 22,155 constant LCU per person compare
- 99 Romania 22,139 constant LCU per person compare
- 100 Bangladesh 21,910 constant LCU per person compare
- 102 Slovenia 21,333 constant LCU per person compare
- 103 Nicaragua 19,556 constant LCU per person compare
- 104 Canada 19,459 constant LCU per person 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), per capita in South Africa?
- Exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per capita in South Africa was 21,851 constant LCU per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23,855 constant LCU per person in 2021.
- What is the lowest exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,782 constant LCU per person in 1983.
- How does South Africa rank for exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 101st out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Exports as a capacity to import Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.