External balance on goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: External balance on goods and services 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 192 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$, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 37th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | 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% |
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)
- GDP (current US$), annual growth rate 6.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current US$), per capita 6,598 current US$ per person (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per unit of GDP 17.89 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per capita 118,025 current LCU per person (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.8659 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita 5,713 constant 2015 US$ 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 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 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 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.