Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Imports of goods and services was 556.33 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 556.33 billion constant 2015 US$ for imports of goods and services in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 556.33 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 117.56 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1992.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 26th of 36 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 118.66 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1992 | 117.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 126.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 144.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +14.2% |
| 1995 | 149.36 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 165.57 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.9% |
| 1997 | 189.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +14.5% |
| 1998 | 204.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 205.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 221.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 225.67 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 234.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 258.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.3% |
| 2004 | 301.81 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.7% |
| 2005 | 331.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.9% |
| 2006 | 354.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 389.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 424.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 402.07 billion constant 2015 US$ | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 436.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 381.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | -12.5% |
| 2012 | 403.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 420.70 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 429.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 431.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 420.84 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 427.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 445.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 441.66 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 407.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 457.30 billion constant 2015 US$ | +12.3% |
| 2022 | 514.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +12.5% |
| 2023 | 515.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 532.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 556.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 157.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | 117.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | 205.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 9 |
| 2000s | 314.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | 221.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | 424.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 423.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | 381.75 billion constant 2015 US$ | 445.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 497.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | 407.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 556.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 23 Brazil 328.14 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 24 Türkiye 310.06 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 25 Sweden 294.74 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 26 Saudi Arabia 287.13 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 27 Thailand 286.05 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 28 Malaysia 282.26 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 29 Indonesia 260.07 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 246.12 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 4.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 420.94 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2516 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 1.12 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 407.9 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1718 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 556.33 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 556.33 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 117.56 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1992.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 26th out of 36 groups with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 — 35 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.