ICT service exports in South Africa
South Africa: ICT service exports was 9.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
ICT service exports in South Africa, 1972–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service exports, BoP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for ict service exports in South Africa is 9.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 167.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ict service exports in South Africa peaked at 9.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1988.
South Africa ranks 65th of 189 countries 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.
ICT service exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of service exports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 0.2% | — |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -48.3% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | +14.7% |
| 1986 | 0.1% | -11.5% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -8.3% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -12.9% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | +24.9% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | +23.6% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | +10.7% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | +42.8% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | +36.9% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | +69.3% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | +7.4% |
| 1996 | 1.2% | +181.9% |
| 1997 | 1.2% | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | -7.1% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 1.0% | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +174.5% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | -13.1% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +16.0% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | +11.6% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | -21.6% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 3.5% | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | +89.1% |
| 2021 | 8.9% | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | -17.8% |
| 2023 | 9.2% | +25.9% |
| 2024 | 9.5% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 9.5% | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.8%, 2.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.2%, 3.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where ICT service exports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +181.9% | 0.4% | 1.2% |
| 2001 | +174.5% | 1.0% | 2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.0% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.8% | 7.3% | 9.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 62 Cote d'Ivoire 9.9% compare
- 63 Indonesia 9.6% compare
- 64 Netherlands 9.5% compare
- 66 Kosovo 9.2% compare
- 66 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 9.2% compare
- 68 Slovenia 9.1% 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ict service exports in South Africa?
- Ict service exports in South Africa was 9.5% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest ict service exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest ict service exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1988.
- How does South Africa rank for ict service exports?
- South Africa ranks 65th out of 189 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ict service exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 167.8%. 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 ICT service exports (% of service exports, BoP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Information and communication technology service exports include computer and communications services (telecommunications and postal and courier services) and information services (computer data and news-related service transactions).