Goods imports in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Goods imports was 441.91 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
441.91 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 1.0%
Rank
32nd
of 45 groups
All-time high
461.96 billion BoP, current US$
in 2022
All-time low
33.76 billion BoP, current US$
in 1977
Years of data
48
1977–2024
Goods imports in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 441.91 billion BoP, current US$ for goods imports in 2024.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, goods imports in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 461.96 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 33.76 billion BoP, current US$, in 1977.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Goods imports in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 33.76 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 40.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.6% |
| 1979 | 46.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.9% |
| 1980 | 62.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.0% |
| 1981 | 70.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1982 | 57.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.6% |
| 1983 | 48.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.2% |
| 1984 | 44.92 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 38.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.7% |
| 1986 | 36.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.1% |
| 1987 | 41.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1988 | 47.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.0% |
| 1989 | 47.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 52.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.3% |
| 1991 | 54.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 56.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 56.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 62.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1995 | 67.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 68.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 74.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1998 | 74.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 78.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 75.88 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 79.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 83.17 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 108.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.9% |
| 2004 | 132.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.6% |
| 2005 | 168.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.6% |
| 2006 | 189.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2007 | 235.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.0% |
| 2008 | 291.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 2009 | 244.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.0% |
| 2010 | 298.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.9% |
| 2011 | 369.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 2012 | 380.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 389.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 397.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 343.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 295.72 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.8% |
| 2017 | 312.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 351.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.5% |
| 2019 | 364.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 314.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.8% |
| 2021 | 382.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.7% |
| 2022 | 461.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.8% |
| 2023 | 437.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 441.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 40.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 33.76 billion BoP, current US$ | 46.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 49.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 36.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 70.56 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 64.70 billion BoP, current US$ | 52.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 78.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 160.93 billion BoP, current US$ | 75.88 billion BoP, current US$ | 291.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 350.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 295.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 397.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 407.58 billion BoP, current US$ | 314.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 461.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 29 Sweden 200.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 30 Czechia 196.91 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 31 Ireland 165.36 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 32 Romania 139.06 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 33 Hungary 138.67 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 34 Denmark 132.41 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 35 Philippines 130.08 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Final consumption expenditure 4.3% (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 202.74 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure 82.6% (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 2.19 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 1.88 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 2.48 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 474.05 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 616.01 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 9.6% (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 2.71 trillion current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is goods imports in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Goods imports in Sub-Saharan Africa was 441.91 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest goods imports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 461.96 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest goods imports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.76 billion BoP, current US$ in 1977.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for goods imports?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is goods imports rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.