Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP was 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 5.0%
World rank
130th
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.37 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1960
All-time low
0.187 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1992
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP for imports of goods and services (constant 2015 us$), per unit of gdp in 2025.
That represents a change of down 5.0% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services (constant 2015 us$), per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 1.37 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.187 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, in 1992.
South Africa ranks 130th of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.37 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 1.18 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.9% |
| 1962 | 1.12 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.8% |
| 1963 | 1.22 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.1% |
| 1964 | 1.36 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.2% |
| 1965 | 1.37 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 1.12 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -17.9% |
| 1967 | 1.18 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 1.07 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.7% |
| 1969 | 1.08 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 1.13 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 1.13 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 0.9398 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.5% |
| 1973 | 0.7705 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -18.0% |
| 1974 | 0.737 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 0.6875 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.7% |
| 1976 | 0.6452 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.2% |
| 1977 | 0.5056 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.6% |
| 1978 | 0.4445 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.1% |
| 1979 | 0.3604 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -18.9% |
| 1980 | 0.3026 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.0% |
| 1981 | 0.3303 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.2% |
| 1982 | 0.296 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.4% |
| 1983 | 0.2217 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -25.1% |
| 1984 | 0.3011 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +35.8% |
| 1985 | 0.3408 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +13.2% |
| 1986 | 0.2922 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -14.3% |
| 1987 | 0.2298 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.4% |
| 1988 | 0.26 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +13.2% |
| 1989 | 0.251 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 0.2026 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -19.3% |
| 1991 | 0.193 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 0.187 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 0.1998 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 0.2224 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.3% |
| 1995 | 0.2322 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 0.2656 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +14.4% |
| 1997 | 0.2704 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 0.3047 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.7% |
| 1999 | 0.2819 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.5% |
| 2000 | 0.2965 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 0.333 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.3% |
| 2002 | 0.3681 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.5% |
| 2003 | 0.2606 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -29.2% |
| 2004 | 0.2319 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.0% |
| 2005 | 0.2277 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 0.256 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.4% |
| 2007 | 0.2554 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 0.2766 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 0.2184 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.1% |
| 2010 | 0.1912 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -12.5% |
| 2011 | 0.1947 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 0.2134 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.6% |
| 2013 | 0.2405 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +12.7% |
| 2014 | 0.2512 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 0.2901 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +15.5% |
| 2016 | 0.298 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 0.2567 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.9% |
| 2018 | 0.25 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 0.2617 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 0.2485 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 0.2194 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.7% |
| 2022 | 0.2599 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +18.5% |
| 2023 | 0.2886 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | +11.1% |
| 2024 | 0.2569 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.0% |
| 2025 | 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3646 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 67% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2819 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP, 87% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.21 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 1.07 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 1.37 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.7344 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3604 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 1.13 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2826 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2217 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3408 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.236 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.187 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3047 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2724 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2184 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.3681 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2447 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.1912 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.298 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2528 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2194 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2886 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 127 Spain 0.2538 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 128 Guatemala 0.2498 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 129 Italy 0.2455 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 131 Dominican Republic 0.2416 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 132 Mali 0.2364 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 133 Sri Lanka 0.2353 constant 2015 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services (constant 2015 us$), per unit of gdp in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 us$), per unit of gdp in South Africa was 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services (constant 2015 us$), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.37 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1960.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services (constant 2015 us$), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.187 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services (constant 2015 us$), per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 130th out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services (constant 2015 us$), per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. 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 (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$) ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Imports of goods and services Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs)
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.