External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 1.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.9% for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 246.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in South Africa peaked at 8.8% in 1987 and was at its lowest, -3.5%, in 1971.
South Africa ranks 65th of 191 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.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.3% | — |
| 1961 | 6.9% | +60.5% |
| 1962 | 7.6% | +9.2% |
| 1963 | 4.7% | -37.8% |
| 1964 | 1.7% | -64.7% |
| 1965 | -0.9% | -156.0% |
| 1966 | 1.9% | -299.8% |
| 1967 | 0.3% | -83.8% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | +772.3% |
| 1969 | 0.5% | -82.3% |
| 1970 | -3.0% | -741.0% |
| 1971 | -3.5% | +18.8% |
| 1972 | 2.1% | -160.5% |
| 1973 | 2.2% | +3.7% |
| 1974 | -0.5% | -121.9% |
| 1975 | -2.1% | +336.0% |
| 1976 | -1.1% | -50.4% |
| 1977 | 4.4% | -513.5% |
| 1978 | 5.9% | +35.4% |
| 1979 | 8.4% | +42.1% |
| 1980 | 7.2% | -13.7% |
| 1981 | -1.8% | -124.7% |
| 1982 | -0.4% | -79.5% |
| 1983 | 3.3% | -994.4% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | -51.1% |
| 1985 | 7.9% | +389.7% |
| 1986 | 7.8% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 8.8% | +12.3% |
| 1988 | 5.8% | -34.7% |
| 1989 | 4.7% | -18.1% |
| 1990 | 4.9% | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 3.8% | -21.9% |
| 1992 | 3.6% | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | +15.1% |
| 1994 | 2.0% | -52.0% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -69.9% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | +125.9% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | -24.5% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | +127.4% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | +13.5% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +36.9% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -38.0% |
| 2004 | -0.1% | -106.1% |
| 2005 | -0.2% | +77.6% |
| 2006 | -1.6% | +588.6% |
| 2007 | -1.2% | -23.2% |
| 2008 | -1.5% | +21.4% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -125.8% |
| 2010 | 1.2% | +207.1% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | -34.5% |
| 2012 | -1.3% | -271.6% |
| 2013 | -2.1% | +62.3% |
| 2014 | -1.5% | -29.2% |
| 2015 | -1.3% | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | -134.7% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +153.8% |
| 2018 | 0.5% | -55.6% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | +767.6% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | +41.6% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | -65.7% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -61.2% |
| 2024 | 1.9% | +134.0% |
| 2025 | 1.9% | -1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -4.0%. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -6.9%. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +994.4% | -0.4% | 3.3% |
| 1968 | +772.3% | 0.3% | 2.6% |
| 2020 | +767.6% | 0.5% | 4.4% |
| 1970 | -741.0% | 0.5% | -3.0% |
| 2006 | -588.6% | -0.2% | -1.6% |
| 1977 | +513.5% | -1.1% | 4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.0% | -0.9% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.3% | -3.5% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.5% | -1.8% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 0.6% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | -1.6% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.2% | -2.1% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 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 external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in South Africa?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in South Africa was 1.9% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 1987.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.5% in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 65th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 246.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.