Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per unit of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per unit of GDP was 0.2955 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
0.2955 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
153rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
0.3409 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2008
All-time low
0.1538 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1992
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per unit of gdp in South Africa stood at 0.2955 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.3409 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.1538 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP, in 1992.
That places South Africa 153rd out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$), per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.2127 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.1841 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.5% |
| 1962 | 0.1789 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 0.2013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.6% |
| 1964 | 0.2214 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.0% |
| 1965 | 0.2322 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.9% |
| 1966 | 0.2012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.4% |
| 1967 | 0.211 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 0.1933 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 1969 | 0.1958 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 0.2138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 0.2202 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 0.1932 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.3% |
| 1973 | 0.1956 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 0.2461 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +25.8% |
| 1975 | 0.2615 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.2% |
| 1976 | 0.2497 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.5% |
| 1977 | 0.2193 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 1978 | 0.2253 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 0.2291 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 0.2477 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.1% |
| 1981 | 0.2697 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.9% |
| 1982 | 0.2386 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.5% |
| 1983 | 0.1845 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -22.7% |
| 1984 | 0.2121 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +15.0% |
| 1985 | 0.2016 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.0% |
| 1986 | 0.1935 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 0.181 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.5% |
| 1988 | 0.2002 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.6% |
| 1989 | 0.1898 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.2% |
| 1990 | 0.1667 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 1991 | 0.1553 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.8% |
| 1992 | 0.1538 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 0.1576 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 0.1755 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.4% |
| 1995 | 0.1943 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.7% |
| 1996 | 0.204 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 0.2062 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 0.2148 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 0.1999 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 0.218 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.0% |
| 2001 | 0.2292 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 0.2519 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.9% |
| 2003 | 0.2198 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.7% |
| 2004 | 0.23 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 0.2379 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 0.2752 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 0.2922 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 0.3409 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +16.7% |
| 2009 | 0.2487 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -27.0% |
| 2010 | 0.2467 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 0.2692 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.1% |
| 2012 | 0.2844 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 0.3047 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.1% |
| 2014 | 0.3048 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.2907 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 0.278 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 0.2617 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 0.2699 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 0.2669 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 0.2339 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.4% |
| 2021 | 0.2496 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 0.3137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +25.7% |
| 2023 | 0.3243 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 0.2988 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.9% |
| 2025 | 0.2955 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.2955 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5329 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP, 55% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.2955 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.345 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP, 86% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.2032 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1789 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2322 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2254 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1932 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2615 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2119 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.181 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2697 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1828 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1538 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2148 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2544 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.218 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3409 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2777 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2467 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3048 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.286 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2339 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3243 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 150 Italy 0.3033 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 151 Congo 0.3026 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 152 Uganda 0.2991 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 154 Central African Republic 0.2871 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 155 Sao Tome and Principe 0.2867 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 156 Ecuador 0.2861 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP 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 unit of gdp in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per unit of gdp in South Africa was 0.2955 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3409 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 2008.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1538 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 153rd out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services (bop, current us$), per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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$), per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Imports of goods and services Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.