Exports of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Exports of goods and services was 31.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Exports of goods and services in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, exports of goods and services in South Africa stood at 31.4%.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 33.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 18.4%, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 117th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Exports of goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 25.6% | — |
| 1961 | 25.3% | -1.0% |
| 1962 | 25.5% | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 24.8% | -2.4% |
| 1964 | 23.8% | -4.2% |
| 1965 | 22.3% | -6.4% |
| 1966 | 22.0% | -1.4% |
| 1967 | 21.4% | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 22.0% | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 20.0% | -8.7% |
| 1970 | 18.4% | -8.2% |
| 1971 | 18.5% | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 21.5% | +16.1% |
| 1973 | 21.7% | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 24.2% | +11.4% |
| 1975 | 23.8% | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 23.9% | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 26.3% | +9.9% |
| 1978 | 28.4% | +8.1% |
| 1979 | 31.2% | +9.9% |
| 1980 | 31.9% | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 25.2% | -20.9% |
| 1982 | 23.4% | -7.2% |
| 1983 | 21.8% | -6.9% |
| 1984 | 22.5% | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 27.9% | +24.0% |
| 1986 | 27.2% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 26.9% | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 25.8% | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 23.7% | -8.1% |
| 1990 | 21.5% | -9.1% |
| 1991 | 19.3% | -10.2% |
| 1992 | 19.0% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 19.9% | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 19.5% | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 20.0% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 21.8% | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 21.7% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 22.5% | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 22.3% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 24.4% | +9.6% |
| 2001 | 26.4% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 28.4% | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 23.9% | -15.9% |
| 2004 | 22.8% | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 23.6% | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 26.1% | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 28.0% | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 32.3% | +15.4% |
| 2009 | 25.0% | -22.5% |
| 2010 | 25.8% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 27.7% | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 27.1% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 29.0% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 27.7% | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 28.2% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 27.3% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 27.5% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 27.2% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 27.6% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 31.2% | +13.1% |
| 2022 | 33.5% | +7.5% |
| 2023 | 33.3% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 31.8% | -4.4% |
| 2025 | 31.4% | -1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 31.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 84% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 31.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 29.2%, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 23.3% | 20.0% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 23.8% | 18.4% | 31.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.6% | 21.8% | 31.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.8% | 19.0% | 22.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.1% | 22.8% | 32.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.6% | 25.8% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.5% | 27.6% | 33.5% | 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 31.4% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest exports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest exports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.4% in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for exports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 117th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is exports of goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Exports of goods and services (% of GDP). 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 is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.