Exports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa
South Africa: Exports of goods, services and primary income was 146.68 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
146.68 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 6.0%
World rank
40th
of 199 countries
All-time high
148.25 billion BoP, current US$
in 2022
All-time low
2.30 billion BoP, current US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Exports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa is 146.68 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 6.0% on the previous year and up 40.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa peaked at 148.25 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.30 billion BoP, current US$, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 40th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Exports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.30 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 2.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 2.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1963 | 2.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 1964 | 2.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1965 | 3.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 3.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1967 | 3.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 3.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.8% |
| 1969 | 4.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 4.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 4.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.0% |
| 1972 | 5.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.8% |
| 1973 | 7.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.2% |
| 1974 | 10.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.3% |
| 1975 | 10.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 10.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1977 | 12.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.3% |
| 1978 | 15.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1979 | 20.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.7% |
| 1980 | 29.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +43.3% |
| 1981 | 24.17 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.9% |
| 1982 | 20.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.0% |
| 1983 | 21.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 20.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.4% |
| 1985 | 19.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 21.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.3% |
| 1987 | 27.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.3% |
| 1988 | 28.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 26.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 27.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 27.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 28.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 29.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 30.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 35.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1996 | 36.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 37.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 36.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 35.53 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 39.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 38.39 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 39.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 50.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.6% |
| 2004 | 61.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.9% |
| 2005 | 72.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2006 | 85.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 2007 | 100.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2008 | 108.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 87.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.5% |
| 2010 | 112.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.7% |
| 2011 | 132.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.4% |
| 2012 | 123.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 120.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 118.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 104.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.7% |
| 2016 | 97.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 110.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2018 | 119.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 114.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 102.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 142.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.7% |
| 2022 | 148.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 138.61 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2024 | 138.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 146.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 146.68 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.83 billion BoP, current US$, 7.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 146.68 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.67 billion BoP, current US$, 25.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.07 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 20.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 29.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ | 27.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 37.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.32 billion BoP, current US$ | 38.39 billion BoP, current US$ | 108.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 115.27 billion BoP, current US$ | 97.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 132.27 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 136.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 102.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 148.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 37 Finland 169.10 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 38 Portugal 163.78 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 39 Romania 162.74 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 41 Slovakia 136.85 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 42 Chile 136.26 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 43 Qatar 134.33 billion BoP, current US$ 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa?
- Exports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa was 146.68 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest exports of goods, services and primary income recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 148.25 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest exports of goods, services and primary income recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.30 billion BoP, current US$ in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for exports of goods, services and primary income?
- South Africa ranks 40th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is exports of goods, services and primary income rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Exports of goods, services and primary income (BoP, current US$). 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. Primary income represents the return that accrues to institutional units for their contribution to the production process or for the provision of financial assets and renting natural resources to other institutional units. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.