Goods imports in South Africa
South Africa: Goods imports was 104.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Goods imports in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 104.47 billion BoP, current US$ for goods imports in 2025.
The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, goods imports in South Africa peaked at 109.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.46 billion BoP, current US$, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 39th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Goods imports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.61 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 1.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.5% |
| 1962 | 1.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 1.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 1964 | 2.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.9% |
| 1965 | 2.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.8% |
| 1966 | 2.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.8% |
| 1967 | 2.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1968 | 2.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 3.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1970 | 3.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.8% |
| 1971 | 4.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.1% |
| 1972 | 3.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.9% |
| 1973 | 5.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.1% |
| 1974 | 8.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +62.9% |
| 1975 | 9.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.0% |
| 1976 | 8.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 8.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.0% |
| 1978 | 9.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1979 | 11.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.9% |
| 1980 | 18.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.7% |
| 1981 | 21.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1982 | 17.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.4% |
| 1983 | 14.53 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.9% |
| 1984 | 15.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 10.72 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.9% |
| 1986 | 11.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1987 | 14.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.7% |
| 1988 | 17.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.7% |
| 1989 | 17.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 17.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 17.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 18.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 18.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 21.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.2% |
| 1995 | 27.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.4% |
| 1996 | 27.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 28.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 27.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 24.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.9% |
| 2000 | 27.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 2001 | 25.80 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 27.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 35.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.6% |
| 2004 | 48.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.6% |
| 2005 | 56.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.6% |
| 2006 | 69.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.1% |
| 2007 | 81.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.7% |
| 2008 | 90.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.9% |
| 2009 | 66.88 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.5% |
| 2010 | 83.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.9% |
| 2011 | 102.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.0% |
| 2012 | 104.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 104.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 99.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 85.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.1% |
| 2016 | 74.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.3% |
| 2017 | 83.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 92.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 87.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2020 | 67.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.5% |
| 2021 | 91.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.5% |
| 2022 | 109.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2023 | 104.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 99.82 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.8% |
| 2025 | 104.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.98 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 10.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 21.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.84 billion BoP, current US$ | 17.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 28.84 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.91 billion BoP, current US$ | 25.80 billion BoP, current US$ | 90.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 74.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 104.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 67.74 billion BoP, current US$ | 109.47 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 36 Slovakia 116.89 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 37 Portugal 109.07 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 38 Norway 104.78 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 40 Israel 102.29 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 41 Greece 91.20 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 42 Chile 86.52 billion BoP, current US$ 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)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5972 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1528 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per capita 1,008 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), annual growth rate -1.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), per capita 18,029 current LCU per person (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), annual growth rate 3.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9509 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is goods imports in South Africa?
- Goods imports in South Africa was 104.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest goods imports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 109.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest goods imports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.46 billion BoP, current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for goods imports?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is goods imports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Goods imports (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods occur when there are changes in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. 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.