Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Imports of goods and services was 580.59 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 580.59 billion BoP, current US$ for imports of goods and services in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 594.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 45.31 billion BoP, current US$, in 1977.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 45.31 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 52.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.1% |
| 1979 | 59.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.0% |
| 1980 | 81.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.4% |
| 1981 | 90.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1982 | 74.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.7% |
| 1983 | 63.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.0% |
| 1984 | 58.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.8% |
| 1985 | 51.68 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.5% |
| 1986 | 49.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.5% |
| 1987 | 56.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1988 | 63.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1989 | 63.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 72.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.4% |
| 1991 | 75.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 78.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 79.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 85.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 91.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.7% |
| 1996 | 94.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 99.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 100.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 106.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 103.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 109.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 113.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 143.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.5% |
| 2004 | 175.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.3% |
| 2005 | 220.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.3% |
| 2006 | 256.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.2% |
| 2007 | 320.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.0% |
| 2008 | 399.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.9% |
| 2009 | 340.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.8% |
| 2010 | 405.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.1% |
| 2011 | 494.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.9% |
| 2012 | 502.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 512.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 529.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 457.53 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 393.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.0% |
| 2017 | 422.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 480.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.5% |
| 2019 | 501.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 418.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.5% |
| 2021 | 493.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2022 | 594.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2023 | 573.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 580.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 45.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 59.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 65.27 billion BoP, current US$ | 49.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 90.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 88.39 billion BoP, current US$ | 72.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 106.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 218.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 103.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 399.75 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 470.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 393.56 billion BoP, current US$ | 529.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 532.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 418.75 billion BoP, current US$ | 594.88 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 30 Malaysia 279.09 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 31 Denmark 257.87 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 32 Czechia 239.81 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 33 Norway 178.65 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 34 Romania 174.97 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 35 Hungary 168.52 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 36 Philippines 168.32 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7.79 % change on previous year (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)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.8523 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 6.95 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -84.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 580.59 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 594.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.31 billion BoP, current US$ in 1977.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. 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 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 — 48 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.