Imports of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services was 126.24 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
126.24 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
42nd
of 200 countries
All-time high
127.87 billion BoP, current US$
in 2022
All-time low
1.70 billion BoP, current US$
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Imports of goods and services in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in South Africa is 126.24 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 127.87 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.70 billion BoP, current US$, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 42nd of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.86 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 1.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.7% |
| 1962 | 1.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 2.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.5% |
| 1964 | 2.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.1% |
| 1965 | 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.6% |
| 1966 | 2.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 1967 | 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.7% |
| 1968 | 3.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 3.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.9% |
| 1970 | 4.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.3% |
| 1971 | 5.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1972 | 4.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.1% |
| 1973 | 6.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.4% |
| 1974 | 10.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.6% |
| 1975 | 11.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1976 | 10.27 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.4% |
| 1977 | 9.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 11.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1979 | 14.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.2% |
| 1980 | 22.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +53.3% |
| 1981 | 25.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.5% |
| 1982 | 20.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.4% |
| 1983 | 17.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.4% |
| 1984 | 18.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 13.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.8% |
| 1986 | 14.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.2% |
| 1987 | 17.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.1% |
| 1988 | 20.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.1% |
| 1989 | 20.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 21.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 21.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 22.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1993 | 23.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 26.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 33.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 1996 | 33.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 34.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 32.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 30.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 33.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.2% |
| 2001 | 31.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.1% |
| 2002 | 32.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 43.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.2% |
| 2004 | 58.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.9% |
| 2005 | 68.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 2006 | 83.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.7% |
| 2007 | 97.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.4% |
| 2008 | 107.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 82.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.9% |
| 2010 | 102.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.6% |
| 2011 | 123.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.8% |
| 2012 | 123.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 122.16 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 116.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 100.80 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 89.95 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.8% |
| 2017 | 99.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 109.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 103.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 79.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.9% |
| 2021 | 104.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.6% |
| 2022 | 127.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.0% |
| 2023 | 123.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 119.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 126.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.70 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.86 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.54 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.95 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 25.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 21.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 34.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.82 billion BoP, current US$ | 31.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 107.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 109.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 89.95 billion BoP, current US$ | 123.56 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 113.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 79.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 127.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 39 Portugal 136.98 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 40 Slovakia 131.22 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 41 Finland 130.27 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 43 Greece 122.33 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 44 Egypt 115.08 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 45 Chile 108.46 billion BoP, current US$ 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 6.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1367 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 901.96 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1889 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,246 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 3.38 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services in South Africa was 126.24 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 127.87 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.70 billion BoP, current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. 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 Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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 is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.