External balance on goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: External balance on goods and services was 145.90 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
145.90 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
32nd
of 192 countries
All-time high
385.97 billion current LCU
in 2021
All-time low
-81.88 billion current LCU
in 2013
Years of data
66
1960–2025
External balance on goods and services in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 145.90 billion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 354.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in South Africa peaked at 385.97 billion current LCU in 2021 and was at its lowest, -81.88 billion current LCU, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 32nd of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 270.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 457.00 million current LCU | +69.3% |
| 1962 | 531.00 million current LCU | +16.2% |
| 1963 | 365.00 million current LCU | -31.3% |
| 1964 | 142.00 million current LCU | -61.1% |
| 1965 | -87.00 million current LCU | -161.3% |
| 1966 | 189.00 million current LCU | -317.2% |
| 1967 | 34.00 million current LCU | -82.0% |
| 1968 | 321.00 million current LCU | +844.1% |
| 1969 | 64.00 million current LCU | -80.1% |
| 1970 | -452.00 million current LCU | -806.2% |
| 1971 | -593.00 million current LCU | +31.2% |
| 1972 | 404.00 million current LCU | -168.1% |
| 1973 | 513.00 million current LCU | +27.0% |
| 1974 | -137.00 million current LCU | -126.7% |
| 1975 | -674.00 million current LCU | +392.0% |
| 1976 | -377.00 million current LCU | -44.1% |
| 1977 | 1.72 billion current LCU | -555.4% |
| 1978 | 2.65 billion current LCU | +54.2% |
| 1979 | 4.45 billion current LCU | +68.0% |
| 1980 | 5.04 billion current LCU | +13.3% |
| 1981 | -1.46 billion current LCU | -129.0% |
| 1982 | -342.00 million current LCU | -76.6% |
| 1983 | 3.52 billion current LCU | -1127.8% |
| 1984 | 2.01 billion current LCU | -42.8% |
| 1985 | 11.29 billion current LCU | +461.9% |
| 1986 | 13.15 billion current LCU | +16.5% |
| 1987 | 17.32 billion current LCU | +31.7% |
| 1988 | 13.60 billion current LCU | -21.5% |
| 1989 | 13.36 billion current LCU | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 15.87 billion current LCU | +18.8% |
| 1991 | 14.19 billion current LCU | -10.6% |
| 1992 | 15.04 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 19.87 billion current LCU | +32.1% |
| 1994 | 10.81 billion current LCU | -45.6% |
| 1995 | 3.72 billion current LCU | -65.6% |
| 1996 | 9.48 billion current LCU | +154.5% |
| 1997 | 7.94 billion current LCU | -16.2% |
| 1998 | 8.48 billion current LCU | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 21.11 billion current LCU | +148.9% |
| 2000 | 27.25 billion current LCU | +29.1% |
| 2001 | 41.30 billion current LCU | +51.5% |
| 2002 | 46.22 billion current LCU | +11.9% |
| 2003 | 31.40 billion current LCU | -32.1% |
| 2004 | -2.12 billion current LCU | -106.8% |
| 2005 | -4.19 billion current LCU | +97.4% |
| 2006 | -32.34 billion current LCU | +671.2% |
| 2007 | -28.33 billion current LCU | -12.4% |
| 2008 | -38.27 billion current LCU | +35.1% |
| 2009 | 10.56 billion current LCU | -127.6% |
| 2010 | 35.47 billion current LCU | +235.8% |
| 2011 | 25.28 billion current LCU | -28.7% |
| 2012 | -46.52 billion current LCU | -284.0% |
| 2013 | -81.88 billion current LCU | +76.0% |
| 2014 | -61.94 billion current LCU | -24.4% |
| 2015 | -57.44 billion current LCU | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 21.46 billion current LCU | -137.4% |
| 2017 | 58.11 billion current LCU | +170.7% |
| 2018 | 27.27 billion current LCU | -53.1% |
| 2019 | 28.48 billion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 244.33 billion current LCU | +757.9% |
| 2021 | 385.97 billion current LCU | +58.0% |
| 2022 | 142.12 billion current LCU | -63.2% |
| 2023 | 58.25 billion current LCU | -59.0% |
| 2024 | 142.42 billion current LCU | +144.5% |
| 2025 | 145.90 billion current LCU | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 228.60 million current LCU | -87.00 million current LCU | 531.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 749.60 million current LCU | -674.00 million current LCU | 4.45 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.75 billion current LCU | -1.46 billion current LCU | 17.32 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.65 billion current LCU | 3.72 billion current LCU | 21.11 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.15 billion current LCU | -38.27 billion current LCU | 46.22 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -5.17 billion current LCU | -81.88 billion current LCU | 58.11 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 186.50 billion current LCU | 58.25 billion current LCU | 385.97 billion current LCU | 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)
- Services, value added (constant LCU), per capita 48,868 constant LCU per person (2025)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 2.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 6.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8998 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 5,937 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 16.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 106,203 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in South Africa?
- External balance on goods and services in South Africa was 145.90 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 385.97 billion current LCU in 2021.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -81.88 billion current LCU in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for external balance on goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 32nd out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 354.0%. 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 External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.