External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in South Africa
South Africa: External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) was 8.16 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
8.16 billion current US$
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
37th
of 193 countries
All-time high
26.12 billion current US$
in 2021
All-time low
-8.48 billion current US$
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 US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 8.16 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 281.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in South Africa peaked at 26.12 billion current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -8.48 billion current US$, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 37th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 378.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 639.80 million current US$ | +69.3% |
| 1962 | 743.40 million current US$ | +16.2% |
| 1963 | 511.00 million current US$ | -31.3% |
| 1964 | 198.80 million current US$ | -61.1% |
| 1965 | -121.80 million current US$ | -161.3% |
| 1966 | 264.60 million current US$ | -317.2% |
| 1967 | 47.60 million current US$ | -82.0% |
| 1968 | 449.40 million current US$ | +844.1% |
| 1969 | 89.60 million current US$ | -80.1% |
| 1970 | -632.80 million current US$ | -806.2% |
| 1971 | -829.12 million current US$ | +31.0% |
| 1972 | 525.55 million current US$ | -163.4% |
| 1973 | 739.24 million current US$ | +40.7% |
| 1974 | -201.63 million current US$ | -127.3% |
| 1975 | -911.42 million current US$ | +352.0% |
| 1976 | -433.55 million current US$ | -52.4% |
| 1977 | 1.97 billion current US$ | -555.4% |
| 1978 | 3.04 billion current US$ | +54.2% |
| 1979 | 5.28 billion current US$ | +73.5% |
| 1980 | 6.47 billion current US$ | +22.5% |
| 1981 | -1.66 billion current US$ | -125.7% |
| 1982 | -314.97 million current US$ | -81.1% |
| 1983 | 3.16 billion current US$ | -1101.7% |
| 1984 | 1.36 billion current US$ | -56.8% |
| 1985 | 5.06 billion current US$ | +271.9% |
| 1986 | 5.76 billion current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1987 | 8.51 billion current US$ | +47.8% |
| 1988 | 5.98 billion current US$ | -29.7% |
| 1989 | 5.09 billion current US$ | -14.9% |
| 1990 | 6.13 billion current US$ | +20.4% |
| 1991 | 5.14 billion current US$ | -16.2% |
| 1992 | 5.27 billion current US$ | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 6.08 billion current US$ | +15.3% |
| 1994 | 3.05 billion current US$ | -49.9% |
| 1995 | 1.03 billion current US$ | -66.3% |
| 1996 | 2.20 billion current US$ | +114.7% |
| 1997 | 1.72 billion current US$ | -21.8% |
| 1998 | 1.53 billion current US$ | -11.0% |
| 1999 | 3.45 billion current US$ | +125.2% |
| 2000 | 3.93 billion current US$ | +13.7% |
| 2001 | 4.80 billion current US$ | +22.2% |
| 2002 | 4.38 billion current US$ | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 4.15 billion current US$ | -5.3% |
| 2004 | -328.81 million current US$ | -107.9% |
| 2005 | -659.35 million current US$ | +100.5% |
| 2006 | -4.78 billion current US$ | +624.3% |
| 2007 | -4.02 billion current US$ | -15.8% |
| 2008 | -4.63 billion current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2009 | 1.25 billion current US$ | -126.9% |
| 2010 | 4.84 billion current US$ | +288.7% |
| 2011 | 3.48 billion current US$ | -28.1% |
| 2012 | -5.67 billion current US$ | -262.7% |
| 2013 | -8.48 billion current US$ | +49.7% |
| 2014 | -5.71 billion current US$ | -32.7% |
| 2015 | -4.51 billion current US$ | -21.1% |
| 2016 | 1.46 billion current US$ | -132.4% |
| 2017 | 4.36 billion current US$ | +199.1% |
| 2018 | 2.06 billion current US$ | -52.8% |
| 2019 | 1.97 billion current US$ | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 14.84 billion current US$ | +653.1% |
| 2021 | 26.12 billion current US$ | +75.9% |
| 2022 | 8.69 billion current US$ | -66.7% |
| 2023 | 3.16 billion current US$ | -63.7% |
| 2024 | 7.77 billion current US$ | +146.1% |
| 2025 | 8.16 billion current US$ | +5.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.16 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -347.73 million current US$. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.16 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) 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 | +1101.7% | -314.97 million current US$ | 3.16 billion current US$ |
| 1968 | +844.1% | 47.60 million current US$ | 449.40 million current US$ |
| 1970 | -806.2% | 89.60 million current US$ | -632.80 million current US$ |
| 2020 | +653.1% | 1.97 billion current US$ | 14.84 billion current US$ |
| 2006 | -624.3% | -659.35 million current US$ | -4.78 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 320.04 million current US$ | -121.80 million current US$ | 743.40 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 855.74 million current US$ | -911.42 million current US$ | 5.28 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.94 billion current US$ | -1.66 billion current US$ | 8.51 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.56 billion current US$ | 1.03 billion current US$ | 6.13 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 408.99 million current US$ | -4.78 billion current US$ | 4.80 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -618.51 million current US$ | -8.48 billion current US$ | 4.84 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.46 billion current US$ | 3.16 billion current US$ | 26.12 billion current US$ | 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)
- 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 in South Africa?
- External balance on goods and services in South Africa was 8.16 billion current US$ 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 26.12 billion current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.48 billion current US$ in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for external balance on goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 193 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 281.0%. 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 US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.