Imports of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services was 104.21 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
104.21 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
42nd
of 172 countries
All-time high
110.09 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2023
All-time low
10.90 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Imports of goods and services in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in South Africa stood at 104.21 billion constant 2015 US$.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 110.09 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10.90 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1961.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 172 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 12.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 10.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1962 | 11.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 13.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1964 | 16.31 billion constant 2015 US$ | +23.6% |
| 1965 | 17.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1966 | 15.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | -10.8% |
| 1967 | 18.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1968 | 18.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 20.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +13.1% |
| 1970 | 23.93 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1971 | 26.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1972 | 23.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | -12.6% |
| 1973 | 25.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1974 | 30.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.0% |
| 1975 | 29.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 26.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1977 | 22.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | -13.7% |
| 1978 | 22.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 22.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 27.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.1% |
| 1981 | 30.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1982 | 25.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | -17.4% |
| 1983 | 21.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | -16.1% |
| 1984 | 25.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.8% |
| 1985 | 21.97 billion constant 2015 US$ | -14.0% |
| 1986 | 21.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 22.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 27.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | +21.9% |
| 1989 | 27.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 25.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1991 | 26.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 27.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 29.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 34.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.1% |
| 1995 | 39.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.8% |
| 1996 | 43.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 45.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 46.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 42.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | -8.4% |
| 2000 | 44.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 45.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 47.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 51.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 59.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.5% |
| 2005 | 65.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.9% |
| 2006 | 77.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +18.3% |
| 2007 | 85.07 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 87.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 72.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | -17.7% |
| 2010 | 79.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2011 | 89.23 billion constant 2015 US$ | +11.8% |
| 2012 | 92.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 96.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 95.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 100.59 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 96.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 97.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 101.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 101.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 83.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | -17.6% |
| 2021 | 92.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.7% |
| 2022 | 105.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.0% |
| 2023 | 110.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 103.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | -6.4% |
| 2025 | 104.21 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | 20.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 22.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | 30.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | 21.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | 30.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | 25.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | 46.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | 44.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | 87.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 95.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | 79.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | 101.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | 83.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | 110.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 39 Portugal 122.91 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 40 Luxembourg 116.25 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 41 Pakistan 115.33 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 43 Finland 104.00 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 44 Iraq 98.79 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 45 Greece 97.94 billion constant 2015 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)
- 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services in South Africa was 104.21 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 110.09 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.90 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 172 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 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 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 constant prices, meaning the series has been adjusted to account for price changes over time. The reference year for this adjustment is 2015. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.