Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Imports of goods and services was 580.59 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
580.59 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 1.3%
Rank
33rd
of 47 groups
All-time high
594.88 billion BoP, current US$
in 2022
All-time low
45.31 billion BoP, current US$
in 1977
Years of data
48
1977–2024
Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 580.59 billion BoP, current US$.
The figure is 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 peaked at 594.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 45.31 billion BoP, current US$, in 1977.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | 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
- 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
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9902 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 466.42 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 1,657 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2516 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.31 billion BoP, current US$ in 1977.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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.