Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per capita was 1,950 BoP, current US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,950 BoP, current US$ per person
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
129th
of 200 countries
All-time high
2,328 BoP, current US$ per person
in 2011
All-time low
100.44 BoP, current US$ per person
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per capita in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in BoP, current US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per capita in South Africa stood at 1,950 BoP, current US$ per person.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per capita in South Africa peaked at 2,328 BoP, current US$ per person in 2011 and was at its lowest, 100.44 BoP, current US$ per person, in 1961.
That places South Africa 129th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 (BoP, current US$), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 113.17 BoP, current US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 100.44 BoP, current US$ per person | -11.3% |
| 1962 | 100.79 BoP, current US$ per person | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 121.72 BoP, current US$ per person | +20.8% |
| 1964 | 143.01 BoP, current US$ per person | +17.5% |
| 1965 | 159 BoP, current US$ per person | +11.2% |
| 1966 | 145.19 BoP, current US$ per person | -8.7% |
| 1967 | 164.3 BoP, current US$ per person | +13.2% |
| 1968 | 157.99 BoP, current US$ per person | -3.8% |
| 1969 | 174.43 BoP, current US$ per person | +10.4% |
| 1970 | 203.65 BoP, current US$ per person | +16.8% |
| 1971 | 224.7 BoP, current US$ per person | +10.3% |
| 1972 | 200.62 BoP, current US$ per person | -10.7% |
| 1973 | 267.84 BoP, current US$ per person | +33.5% |
| 1974 | 407.67 BoP, current US$ per person | +52.2% |
| 1975 | 436.65 BoP, current US$ per person | +7.1% |
| 1976 | 389.24 BoP, current US$ per person | -10.9% |
| 1977 | 366.51 BoP, current US$ per person | -5.8% |
| 1978 | 417.14 BoP, current US$ per person | +13.8% |
| 1979 | 504.3 BoP, current US$ per person | +20.9% |
| 1980 | 750.14 BoP, current US$ per person | +48.7% |
| 1981 | 822.65 BoP, current US$ per person | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 648.31 BoP, current US$ per person | -21.2% |
| 1983 | 542.08 BoP, current US$ per person | -16.4% |
| 1984 | 531.23 BoP, current US$ per person | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 370.89 BoP, current US$ per person | -30.2% |
| 1986 | 392.38 BoP, current US$ per person | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 468.18 BoP, current US$ per person | +19.3% |
| 1988 | 541.08 BoP, current US$ per person | +15.6% |
| 1989 | 517.53 BoP, current US$ per person | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 515.8 BoP, current US$ per person | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 503.8 BoP, current US$ per person | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 532.63 BoP, current US$ per person | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 535.66 BoP, current US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 612.23 BoP, current US$ per person | +14.3% |
| 1995 | 749.3 BoP, current US$ per person | +22.4% |
| 1996 | 738.05 BoP, current US$ per person | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 763.16 BoP, current US$ per person | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 711 BoP, current US$ per person | -6.8% |
| 1999 | 648.06 BoP, current US$ per person | -8.9% |
| 2000 | 701.34 BoP, current US$ per person | +8.2% |
| 2001 | 652.58 BoP, current US$ per person | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 677.23 BoP, current US$ per person | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 893.03 BoP, current US$ per person | +31.9% |
| 2004 | 1,201 BoP, current US$ per person | +34.5% |
| 2005 | 1,389 BoP, current US$ per person | +15.6% |
| 2006 | 1,673 BoP, current US$ per person | +20.5% |
| 2007 | 1,926 BoP, current US$ per person | +15.1% |
| 2008 | 2,108 BoP, current US$ per person | +9.5% |
| 2009 | 1,585 BoP, current US$ per person | -24.8% |
| 2010 | 1,967 BoP, current US$ per person | +24.1% |
| 2011 | 2,328 BoP, current US$ per person | +18.3% |
| 2012 | 2,297 BoP, current US$ per person | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 2,234 BoP, current US$ per person | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 2,090 BoP, current US$ per person | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 1,777 BoP, current US$ per person | -15.0% |
| 2016 | 1,571 BoP, current US$ per person | -11.6% |
| 2017 | 1,732 BoP, current US$ per person | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 1,866 BoP, current US$ per person | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 1,744 BoP, current US$ per person | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 1,305 BoP, current US$ per person | -25.1% |
| 2021 | 1,704 BoP, current US$ per person | +30.6% |
| 2022 | 2,050 BoP, current US$ per person | +20.3% |
| 2023 | 1,957 BoP, current US$ per person | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 1,873 BoP, current US$ per person | -4.3% |
| 2025 | 1,950 BoP, current US$ per person | +4.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1,950 BoP, current US$ per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,852 BoP, current US$ per person, 51% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1,950 BoP, current US$ per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 458.48 BoP, current US$ per person, 4.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 138 BoP, current US$ per person | 100.44 BoP, current US$ per person | 174.43 BoP, current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 341.83 BoP, current US$ per person | 200.62 BoP, current US$ per person | 504.3 BoP, current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 558.45 BoP, current US$ per person | 370.89 BoP, current US$ per person | 822.65 BoP, current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 630.97 BoP, current US$ per person | 503.8 BoP, current US$ per person | 763.16 BoP, current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,281 BoP, current US$ per person | 652.58 BoP, current US$ per person | 2,108 BoP, current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,961 BoP, current US$ per person | 1,571 BoP, current US$ per person | 2,328 BoP, current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,806 BoP, current US$ per person | 1,305 BoP, current US$ per person | 2,050 BoP, current US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 126 Eswatini 2,103 BoP, current US$ per person compare
- 127 Kyrgyzstan 2,091 BoP, current US$ per person compare
- 128 Ecuador 2,038 BoP, current US$ per person compare
- 130 Guatemala 1,933 BoP, current US$ per person compare
- 131 Bhutan 1,911 BoP, current US$ per person compare
- 132 Brazil 1,860 BoP, current US$ per person 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per capita in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per capita in South Africa was 1,950 BoP, current US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,328 BoP, current US$ per person in 2011.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 100.44 BoP, current US$ per person in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 129th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Imports of goods and services Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.