Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), per unit of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), per unit of GDP was 3.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 5.0%
World rank
86th
of 179 countries
All-time high
21.06 constant LCU per US$ of GDP
in 1960
All-time low
2.55 constant LCU per US$ of GDP
in 2010
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU), per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant LCU per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per unit of gdp in South Africa is 3.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 21.06 constant LCU per US$ of GDP in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.55 constant LCU per US$ of GDP, in 2010.
South Africa ranks 86th of 179 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), per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant LCU per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 21.06 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 20.74 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 20.41 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -1.6% |
| 1963 | 19.13 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 1964 | 18.7 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 16.77 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -10.3% |
| 1966 | 15.66 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -6.6% |
| 1967 | 15.2 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -2.9% |
| 1968 | 15.55 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 14.1 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -9.3% |
| 1970 | 12.38 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 1971 | 12.04 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -2.7% |
| 1972 | 13.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +10.6% |
| 1973 | 10.95 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -17.8% |
| 1974 | 9.21 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -15.9% |
| 1975 | 8.05 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -12.6% |
| 1976 | 7.88 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 7.73 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 7.15 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -7.5% |
| 1979 | 6.28 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 1980 | 4.99 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -20.5% |
| 1981 | 3.93 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -21.2% |
| 1982 | 3.72 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -5.5% |
| 1983 | 3.33 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -10.4% |
| 1984 | 4.13 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +24.2% |
| 1985 | 6.05 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +46.3% |
| 1986 | 5.23 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -13.5% |
| 1987 | 4.36 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -16.7% |
| 1988 | 4.27 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 4 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 3.34 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -16.5% |
| 1991 | 3.06 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 1992 | 2.94 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 3.21 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +9.3% |
| 1994 | 3.16 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 3.05 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 3.61 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +18.3% |
| 1997 | 3.62 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 4.07 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +12.4% |
| 1999 | 4 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 4.23 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 4.91 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +16.0% |
| 2002 | 5.33 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +8.6% |
| 2003 | 3.64 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -31.6% |
| 2004 | 2.94 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -19.3% |
| 2005 | 2.88 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 3.08 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 3.12 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 3.37 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 2.83 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -16.2% |
| 2010 | 2.55 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -9.7% |
| 2011 | 2.55 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.6 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 2.85 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +10.0% |
| 2014 | 3.05 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 3.53 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +16.0% |
| 2016 | 3.86 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 3.42 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -11.5% |
| 2018 | 3.25 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 3.4 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 3.77 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +10.8% |
| 2021 | 3.49 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 3.54 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 3.77 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | +6.7% |
| 2024 | 3.49 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -7.6% |
| 2025 | 3.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | -5.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.26 constant LCU per US$ of GDP, 78% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.44 constant LCU per US$ of GDP, 8% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.73 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 14.1 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 21.06 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.5 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 6.28 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 13.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.4 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 3.33 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 6.05 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.41 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 2.94 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 4.07 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.63 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 2.83 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 5.33 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.11 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 2.55 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 3.86 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.56 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 3.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 3.77 constant LCU per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 83 Denmark 3.64 constant LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 84 Norway 3.6 constant LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 85 Morocco 3.58 constant LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 87 Gambia 3.26 constant LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 88 Syria 3.24 constant LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 89 Solomon Islands 3.21 constant LCU per US$ of GDP 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per unit of gdp in South Africa?
- Exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per unit of gdp in South Africa was 3.31 constant LCU per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.06 constant LCU per US$ of GDP in 1960.
- What is the lowest exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.55 constant LCU per US$ of GDP in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 86th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is exports as a capacity to import (constant lcu), per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. 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), per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU) ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Exports as a capacity to import Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
- GDP 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
Exports as a capacity to import (constant LCU) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.