External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth in South Africa

South Africa: External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth was 2.45 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
2.45 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 98.3%
World rank
80th
of 192 countries
All-time high
844.12 % change on previous year
in 1968
All-time low
-806.25 % change on previous year
in 1970
Years of data
64
1961–2025

External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth in South Africa, 1961–2025

-1.0k-50005001.0k196119932025

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 2.45 % change on previous year for external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth in 2025.

The figure is down 98.3% on the previous year and down 66.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth in South Africa peaked at 844.12 % change on previous year in 1968 and was at its lowest, -806.25 % change on previous year, in 1970.

South Africa ranks 80th of 192 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 (current LCU), annual growth in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961 to 2025.
Year % change on previous year Change
1961 69.26 % change on previous year
1962 16.19 % change on previous year -76.6%
1963 -31.26 % change on previous year -293.1%
1964 -61.1 % change on previous year +95.4%
1965 -161.27 % change on previous year +164.0%
1966 317.24 % change on previous year -296.7%
1967 -82.01 % change on previous year -125.9%
1968 844.12 % change on previous year -1129.3%
1969 -80.06 % change on previous year -109.5%
1970 -806.25 % change on previous year +907.0%
1971 -31.19 % change on previous year -96.1%
1972 168.13 % change on previous year -639.0%
1973 26.98 % change on previous year -84.0%
1974 -126.71 % change on previous year -569.6%
1975 -391.97 % change on previous year +209.4%
1976 44.07 % change on previous year -111.2%
1977 555.44 % change on previous year +1160.5%
1978 54.16 % change on previous year -90.2%
1979 68.04 % change on previous year +25.6%
1980 13.26 % change on previous year -80.5%
1981 -128.98 % change on previous year -1072.4%
1982 76.58 % change on previous year -159.4%
1984 -42.84 % change on previous year -156.0%
1985 461.87 % change on previous year -1178.0%
1986 16.51 % change on previous year -96.4%
1987 31.68 % change on previous year +91.9%
1988 -21.47 % change on previous year -167.8%
1989 -1.78 % change on previous year -91.7%
1990 18.77 % change on previous year -1155.1%
1991 -10.59 % change on previous year -156.4%
1992 6.03 % change on previous year -156.9%
1993 32.08 % change on previous year +432.4%
1994 -45.57 % change on previous year -242.0%
1995 -65.58 % change on previous year +43.9%
1996 154.53 % change on previous year -335.6%
1997 -16.2 % change on previous year -110.5%
1998 6.8 % change on previous year -142.0%
1999 148.87 % change on previous year +2089.3%
2000 29.12 % change on previous year -80.4%
2001 51.54 % change on previous year +77.0%
2002 11.91 % change on previous year -76.9%
2003 -32.07 % change on previous year -369.3%
2004 -106.77 % change on previous year +232.9%
2005 -97.41 % change on previous year -8.8%
2006 -671.24 % change on previous year +589.1%
2007 12.4 % change on previous year -101.8%
2008 -35.07 % change on previous year -382.9%
2009 127.6 % change on previous year -463.8%
2010 235.84 % change on previous year +84.8%
2011 -28.71 % change on previous year -112.2%
2012 -283.98 % change on previous year +889.0%
2013 -76.02 % change on previous year -73.2%
2014 24.35 % change on previous year -132.0%
2015 7.26 % change on previous year -70.2%
2016 137.36 % change on previous year +1792.5%
2017 170.74 % change on previous year +24.3%
2018 -53.06 % change on previous year -131.1%
2019 4.42 % change on previous year -108.3%
2020 757.94 % change on previous year +17056.2%
2021 57.97 % change on previous year -92.4%
2022 -63.18 % change on previous year -209.0%
2023 -59.01 % change on previous year -6.6%
2024 144.48 % change on previous year -344.8%
2025 2.45 % change on previous year -98.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 92.35 % change on previous year -161.27 % change on previous year 844.12 % change on previous year 9
1970s -43.93 % change on previous year -806.25 % change on previous year 555.44 % change on previous year 10
1980s 44.98 % change on previous year -128.98 % change on previous year 461.87 % change on previous year 9
1990s 22.92 % change on previous year -65.58 % change on previous year 154.53 % change on previous year 10
2000s -71 % change on previous year -671.24 % change on previous year 127.6 % change on previous year 10
2010s 13.82 % change on previous year -283.98 % change on previous year 235.84 % change on previous year 10
2020s 140.11 % change on previous year -63.18 % change on previous year 757.94 % change on previous year 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 77 Bahrain 3.62 % change on previous year compare
  2. 78 Guinea-Bissau 3.09 % change on previous year compare
  3. 79 Mali 2.64 % change on previous year compare
  4. 81 Luxembourg 1.78 % change on previous year compare
  5. 82 Singapore 1.38 % change on previous year compare
  6. 83 Micronesia, Federated States of 1.21 % change on previous year compare

See the full ranking of 192 places →

More economy & growth data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth in South Africa?
External balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth in South Africa was 2.45 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 844.12 % change on previous year in 1968.
What is the lowest external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -806.25 % change on previous year in 1970.
How does South Africa rank for external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth?
South Africa ranks 80th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
Is external balance on goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 66.3%. 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 External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/external-balance-on-goods-and-services-current-lcu-annual-growth-rate/south-africa/

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<a href="https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/external-balance-on-goods-and-services-current-lcu-annual-growth-rate/south-africa/">External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

The year-on-year percentage change in External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.

Computed from

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

Indicator
External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate
Unit
% change on previous year
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
192 places, 8,589 data points, 1961–2025
Last refreshed

The year-on-year percentage change in External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.