Exports of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Exports of goods and services was -2.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Exports of goods and services in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -2.5% for exports of goods and services in 2025.
That represents a change of up 11.0% on the previous year and down 180.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 10.9% in 1995 and was at its lowest, -17.0%, in 2009.
South Africa ranks 155th of 178 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Exports of goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7.1% | — |
| 1962 | 8.5% | +19.7% |
| 1963 | 7.6% | -10.0% |
| 1964 | 4.9% | -35.3% |
| 1965 | 3.1% | -37.9% |
| 1966 | 1.4% | -55.3% |
| 1967 | 4.8% | +251.5% |
| 1968 | 4.2% | -13.8% |
| 1969 | 0.8% | -81.6% |
| 1970 | 2.7% | +258.0% |
| 1971 | 3.1% | +12.6% |
| 1972 | 3.0% | -2.6% |
| 1973 | -5.2% | -272.7% |
| 1974 | -4.9% | -5.6% |
| 1975 | -1.2% | -76.3% |
| 1976 | 4.3% | -470.9% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | -28.4% |
| 1979 | 1.8% | -44.2% |
| 1980 | -0.0% | -100.2% |
| 1981 | -5.4% | +175776.8% |
| 1982 | -2.6% | -50.6% |
| 1983 | -1.3% | -49.8% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | -300.7% |
| 1985 | 10.1% | +278.0% |
| 1986 | -3.7% | -136.6% |
| 1987 | 4.6% | -226.0% |
| 1988 | 8.2% | +75.7% |
| 1989 | 2.2% | -73.3% |
| 1990 | -0.4% | -119.9% |
| 1991 | -1.5% | +256.2% |
| 1992 | 5.5% | -455.3% |
| 1993 | 10.4% | +89.0% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | -76.0% |
| 1995 | 10.9% | +340.0% |
| 1996 | 7.2% | -34.1% |
| 1997 | 5.3% | -26.5% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | -38.7% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | -61.2% |
| 2000 | 8.3% | +559.3% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | -71.2% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | -58.7% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -89.0% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +2493.2% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | +202.3% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -12.9% |
| 2007 | 7.8% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | -80.2% |
| 2009 | -17.0% | -1198.4% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | -145.3% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | -61.0% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -63.0% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | +235.6% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | -16.1% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -86.7% |
| 2017 | -0.3% | -167.1% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | -1105.8% |
| 2019 | -3.3% | -220.5% |
| 2020 | -12.0% | +262.3% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | -180.7% |
| 2022 | 7.8% | -20.0% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | -34.1% |
| 2024 | -2.8% | -153.9% |
| 2025 | -2.5% | -11.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -2.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.7%. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -2.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.3%. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Exports of goods and services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | -175776.8% | -0.0% | -5.4% |
| 2004 | +2493.2% | 0.1% | 2.8% |
| 2009 | -1198.4% | 1.5% | -17.0% |
| 2018 | +1105.8% | -0.3% | 2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.7% | 0.8% | 8.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.2% | -5.2% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.5% | -5.4% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | -1.5% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | -17.0% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | -3.3% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | -12.0% | 9.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 of goods and services in South Africa?
- Exports of goods and services in South Africa was -2.5% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest exports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.9% in 1995.
- What is the lowest exports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.0% in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for exports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 155th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is exports of goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 180.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Exports of goods and services (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods includes changes in the economic ownership of goods from residents of the compiling economy to non-residents, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Exports of services includes services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.