Imports of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services was 1.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.1% for imports of goods and services in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 117.9% on the previous year and down 77.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 23.6% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -17.7%, in 2009.
South Africa ranks 137th of 178 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -9.2% | — |
| 1962 | 1.3% | -113.7% |
| 1963 | 19.5% | +1446.5% |
| 1964 | 23.6% | +20.7% |
| 1965 | 9.8% | -58.5% |
| 1966 | -10.8% | -210.0% |
| 1967 | 16.4% | -252.3% |
| 1968 | -1.1% | -107.0% |
| 1969 | 13.1% | -1246.1% |
| 1970 | 15.1% | +14.6% |
| 1971 | 10.1% | -33.0% |
| 1972 | -12.6% | -224.5% |
| 1973 | 11.2% | -189.5% |
| 1974 | 19.0% | +69.2% |
| 1975 | -3.3% | -117.3% |
| 1976 | -10.0% | +204.3% |
| 1977 | -13.7% | +36.7% |
| 1978 | 0.1% | -100.7% |
| 1979 | -1.0% | -1161.9% |
| 1980 | 19.1% | -2088.3% |
| 1981 | 13.7% | -28.0% |
| 1982 | -17.4% | -226.4% |
| 1983 | -16.1% | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 19.8% | -223.0% |
| 1985 | -14.0% | -170.9% |
| 1986 | -2.5% | -82.5% |
| 1987 | 3.5% | -242.5% |
| 1988 | 21.9% | +527.0% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | -98.5% |
| 1990 | -5.8% | -1934.4% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | -136.7% |
| 1992 | 5.3% | +149.6% |
| 1993 | 7.0% | +31.2% |
| 1994 | 16.1% | +129.3% |
| 1995 | 16.8% | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 8.7% | -48.1% |
| 1997 | 5.4% | -38.2% |
| 1998 | 2.0% | -62.6% |
| 1999 | -8.4% | -515.3% |
| 2000 | 5.3% | -163.8% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -95.3% |
| 2002 | 5.3% | +2037.6% |
| 2003 | 8.1% | +51.4% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | +91.8% |
| 2005 | 10.9% | -29.8% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | +67.9% |
| 2007 | 9.4% | -48.7% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | -70.0% |
| 2009 | -17.7% | -728.7% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | -161.1% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | +9.7% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | -67.3% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | -0.7% | -117.0% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | -834.3% |
| 2016 | -4.1% | -181.9% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | -137.1% |
| 2018 | 3.5% | +127.0% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | -84.1% |
| 2020 | -17.6% | -3276.6% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | -155.2% |
| 2022 | 15.0% | +54.3% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -73.7% |
| 2024 | -6.4% | -262.9% |
| 2025 | 1.1% | -117.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 23% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.0%, 28% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imports of goods and services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -3276.6% | 0.6% | -17.6% |
| 1980 | +2088.3% | -1.0% | 19.1% |
| 2002 | +2037.6% | 0.2% | 5.3% |
| 1990 | -1934.4% | 0.3% | -5.8% |
| 1963 | +1446.5% | 1.3% | 19.5% |
| 1969 | +1246.1% | -1.1% | 13.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.0% | -10.8% | 23.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.5% | -13.7% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.8% | -17.4% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | -8.4% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.8% | -17.7% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | -4.1% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | -17.6% | 15.0% | 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)
- 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 imports of goods and services in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services in South Africa was 1.1% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.6% in 1964.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -17.7% in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 137th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.3%. 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 Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.