Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Imports of goods and services was 4.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1992–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) is 4.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 39.7% on the previous year and up 719.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 16.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, -12.5%, in 2011.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 26th of 36 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.
Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | -0.9% | — |
| 1993 | 7.6% | -920.9% |
| 1994 | 14.2% | +86.7% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | -76.1% |
| 1996 | 10.9% | +220.3% |
| 1997 | 14.5% | +33.3% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | -45.4% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -96.1% |
| 2000 | 7.8% | +2450.0% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | -73.9% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +90.0% |
| 2003 | 10.3% | +164.8% |
| 2004 | 16.7% | +62.7% |
| 2005 | 9.9% | -40.9% |
| 2006 | 6.9% | -30.6% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +45.3% |
| 2008 | 8.9% | -11.0% |
| 2009 | -5.2% | -159.1% |
| 2010 | 8.6% | -263.2% |
| 2011 | -12.5% | -246.5% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -146.0% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | -27.2% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -51.3% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | -72.9% |
| 2016 | -2.5% | -553.6% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | -161.1% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +175.7% |
| 2019 | -0.8% | -119.7% |
| 2020 | -7.8% | +839.5% |
| 2021 | 12.3% | -257.6% |
| 2022 | 12.5% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | -98.1% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +1291.3% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | +39.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +2450.0% | 0.3% | 7.8% |
| 2024 | +1291.3% | 0.2% | 3.2% |
| 1993 | +920.9% | -0.9% | 7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.2% | -0.9% | 14.5% | 8 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | -5.2% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | -12.5% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | -7.8% | 12.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.26 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 246.12 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1471 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 283.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1696 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 4.5% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 16.7% in 2004.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was -12.5% in 2011.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 26th out of 36 groups with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 719.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.
Download this data
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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.