External balance on goods and services (current US$) … US annual in South Africa
South Africa: External balance on goods and services (current US$) … US annual was 4.97 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4.97 % change on previous year for external balance on goods and services (current us$), annual growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 96.6% on the previous year and down 76.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services (current us$), annual growth in South Africa peaked at 844.12 % change on previous year in 1968 and was at its lowest, -806.25 % change on previous year, in 1970.
That places South Africa 71st out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services (current US$) … US annual in South Africa, year by year
| 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 | -31.02 % change on previous year | -96.2% |
| 1972 | 163.39 % change on previous year | -626.6% |
| 1973 | 40.66 % change on previous year | -75.1% |
| 1974 | -127.28 % change on previous year | -413.0% |
| 1975 | -352.03 % change on previous year | +176.6% |
| 1976 | 52.43 % change on previous year | -114.9% |
| 1977 | 555.44 % change on previous year | +959.4% |
| 1978 | 54.16 % change on previous year | -90.2% |
| 1979 | 73.54 % change on previous year | +35.8% |
| 1980 | 22.45 % change on previous year | -69.5% |
| 1981 | -125.72 % change on previous year | -659.9% |
| 1982 | 81.07 % change on previous year | -164.5% |
| 1984 | -56.84 % change on previous year | -170.1% |
| 1985 | 271.93 % change on previous year | -578.4% |
| 1986 | 13.64 % change on previous year | -95.0% |
| 1987 | 47.79 % change on previous year | +250.4% |
| 1988 | -29.67 % change on previous year | -162.1% |
| 1989 | -14.86 % change on previous year | -49.9% |
| 1990 | 20.4 % change on previous year | -237.3% |
| 1991 | -16.22 % change on previous year | -179.5% |
| 1992 | 2.65 % change on previous year | -116.4% |
| 1993 | 15.28 % change on previous year | +475.5% |
| 1994 | -49.91 % change on previous year | -426.6% |
| 1995 | -66.3 % change on previous year | +32.9% |
| 1996 | 114.73 % change on previous year | -273.0% |
| 1997 | -21.81 % change on previous year | -119.0% |
| 1998 | -10.98 % change on previous year | -49.7% |
| 1999 | 125.2 % change on previous year | -1240.3% |
| 2000 | 13.67 % change on previous year | -89.1% |
| 2001 | 22.16 % change on previous year | +62.1% |
| 2002 | -8.6 % change on previous year | -138.8% |
| 2003 | -5.34 % change on previous year | -37.9% |
| 2004 | -107.92 % change on previous year | +1919.6% |
| 2005 | -100.53 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 2006 | -624.29 % change on previous year | +521.0% |
| 2007 | 15.8 % change on previous year | -102.5% |
| 2008 | -15.19 % change on previous year | -196.2% |
| 2009 | 126.91 % change on previous year | -935.3% |
| 2010 | 288.7 % change on previous year | +127.5% |
| 2011 | -28.12 % change on previous year | -109.7% |
| 2012 | -262.72 % change on previous year | +834.1% |
| 2013 | -49.75 % change on previous year | -81.1% |
| 2014 | 32.68 % change on previous year | -165.7% |
| 2015 | 21.12 % change on previous year | -35.4% |
| 2016 | 132.39 % change on previous year | +526.7% |
| 2017 | 199.13 % change on previous year | +50.4% |
| 2018 | -52.78 % change on previous year | -126.5% |
| 2019 | -4.36 % change on previous year | -91.7% |
| 2020 | 653.13 % change on previous year | -15082.4% |
| 2021 | 75.94 % change on previous year | -88.4% |
| 2022 | -66.73 % change on previous year | -187.9% |
| 2023 | -63.66 % change on previous year | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 146.1 % change on previous year | -329.5% |
| 2025 | 4.97 % change on previous year | -96.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.97 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -6.15 % change on previous year. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.97 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1 % change on previous year, 5.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current US$) … US annual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +15082.4% | -4.36 % change on previous year | 653.13 % change on previous year |
| 2004 | -1919.6% | -5.34 % change on previous year | -107.92 % change on previous year |
| 1999 | +1240.3% | -10.98 % change on previous year | 125.2 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 92.35 % change on previous year | -161.27 % change on previous year | 844.12 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | -37.7 % change on previous year | -806.25 % change on previous year | 555.44 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.31 % change on previous year | -125.72 % change on previous year | 271.93 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1990s | 11.3 % change on previous year | -66.3 % change on previous year | 125.2 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -68.33 % change on previous year | -624.29 % change on previous year | 126.91 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.63 % change on previous year | -262.72 % change on previous year | 288.7 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 124.96 % change on previous year | -66.73 % change on previous year | 653.13 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 68 Luxembourg 6.26 % change on previous year compare
- 69 Czechia 5.46 % change on previous year compare
- 70 Seychelles 5.03 % change on previous year compare
- 72 Mauritius 4.66 % change on previous year compare
- 73 Tonga 4.35 % change on previous year compare
- 74 Oman 4.35 % change on previous year 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services (current us$), annual growth in South Africa?
- External balance on goods and services (current us$), annual growth in South Africa was 4.97 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services (current us$), annual growth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 844.12 % change on previous year in 1968.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services (current us$), 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 us$), annual growth?
- South Africa ranks 71st out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services (current us$), annual growth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.5%. 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 US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in External balance on goods and services (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- External balance on goods and services Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
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
The year-on-year percentage change in External balance on goods and services (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.