Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate was 2.7 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.7 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 170.9%
World rank
144th
of 192 countries
All-time high
54.24 % change on previous year
in 1974
All-time low
-21.93 % change on previous year
in 2009
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.7 % change on previous year for imports of goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 170.9% on the previous year and up 56.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 54.24 % change on previous year in 1974 and was at its lowest, -21.93 % change on previous year, in 2009.
South Africa ranks 144th of 192 countries on this measure, 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 (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -8.73 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 3.38 % change on previous year | -138.7% |
| 1963 | 24.48 % change on previous year | +624.3% |
| 1964 | 21.14 % change on previous year | -13.6% |
| 1965 | 14.65 % change on previous year | -30.7% |
| 1966 | -5.81 % change on previous year | -139.7% |
| 1967 | 16.75 % change on previous year | -388.2% |
| 1968 | -0.797 % change on previous year | -104.8% |
| 1969 | 13.87 % change on previous year | -1840.2% |
| 1970 | 20.35 % change on previous year | +46.7% |
| 1971 | 13.76 % change on previous year | -32.4% |
| 1972 | -1.27 % change on previous year | -109.3% |
| 1973 | 23.43 % change on previous year | -1938.3% |
| 1974 | 54.24 % change on previous year | +131.5% |
| 1975 | 18.9 % change on previous year | -65.1% |
| 1976 | 8.42 % change on previous year | -55.4% |
| 1977 | -3.26 % change on previous year | -138.7% |
| 1978 | 16.96 % change on previous year | -620.7% |
| 1979 | 20.05 % change on previous year | +18.2% |
| 1980 | 41.36 % change on previous year | +106.3% |
| 1981 | 28.59 % change on previous year | -30.9% |
| 1982 | 0.4352 % change on previous year | -98.5% |
| 1983 | -10.57 % change on previous year | -2528.0% |
| 1984 | 32.02 % change on previous year | -403.1% |
| 1985 | 10.08 % change on previous year | -68.5% |
| 1986 | 12.93 % change on previous year | +28.3% |
| 1987 | 9.27 % change on previous year | -28.3% |
| 1988 | 33.37 % change on previous year | +259.8% |
| 1989 | 13.57 % change on previous year | -59.3% |
| 1990 | 1.02 % change on previous year | -92.5% |
| 1991 | 6.7 % change on previous year | +554.6% |
| 1992 | 11 % change on previous year | +64.2% |
| 1993 | 17.88 % change on previous year | +62.5% |
| 1994 | 26.12 % change on previous year | +46.1% |
| 1995 | 26.47 % change on previous year | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 18.37 % change on previous year | -30.6% |
| 1997 | 12.12 % change on previous year | -34.0% |
| 1998 | 13.22 % change on previous year | +9.1% |
| 1999 | 1.68 % change on previous year | -87.3% |
| 2000 | 24.17 % change on previous year | +1334.9% |
| 2001 | 15.77 % change on previous year | -34.7% |
| 2002 | 28.06 % change on previous year | +77.9% |
| 2003 | -4.58 % change on previous year | -116.3% |
| 2004 | 16.35 % change on previous year | -457.0% |
| 2005 | 15.74 % change on previous year | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 30.07 % change on previous year | +91.0% |
| 2007 | 20.22 % change on previous year | -32.8% |
| 2008 | 28.67 % change on previous year | +41.8% |
| 2009 | -21.93 % change on previous year | -176.5% |
| 2010 | 9.43 % change on previous year | -143.0% |
| 2011 | 19.12 % change on previous year | +102.7% |
| 2012 | 13.18 % change on previous year | -31.1% |
| 2013 | 16.3 % change on previous year | +23.7% |
| 2014 | 6.87 % change on previous year | -57.9% |
| 2015 | 1.73 % change on previous year | -74.8% |
| 2016 | 2.81 % change on previous year | +62.3% |
| 2017 | 0.8827 % change on previous year | -68.6% |
| 2018 | 8.81 % change on previous year | +897.8% |
| 2019 | 3.75 % change on previous year | -57.4% |
| 2020 | -14.12 % change on previous year | -476.7% |
| 2021 | 20.19 % change on previous year | -243.0% |
| 2022 | 35.08 % change on previous year | +73.8% |
| 2023 | 8.99 % change on previous year | -74.4% |
| 2024 | -3.81 % change on previous year | -142.4% |
| 2025 | 2.7 % change on previous year | -170.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.7 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.48 % change on previous year, 42% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.7 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.53 % change on previous year, 36% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | -2528.0% | 0.4352 % change on previous year | -10.57 % change on previous year |
| 1973 | +1938.3% | -1.27 % change on previous year | 23.43 % change on previous year |
| 1969 | +1840.2% | -0.797 % change on previous year | 13.87 % change on previous year |
| 2000 | +1334.9% | 1.68 % change on previous year | 24.17 % change on previous year |
| 2018 | +897.8% | 0.8827 % change on previous year | 8.81 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.77 % change on previous year | -8.73 % change on previous year | 24.48 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 17.16 % change on previous year | -3.26 % change on previous year | 54.24 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.11 % change on previous year | -10.57 % change on previous year | 41.36 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.46 % change on previous year | 1.02 % change on previous year | 26.47 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.25 % change on previous year | -21.93 % change on previous year | 30.07 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.29 % change on previous year | 0.8827 % change on previous year | 19.12 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.17 % change on previous year | -14.12 % change on previous year | 35.08 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa was 2.7 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 54.24 % change on previous year in 1974.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -21.93 % change on previous year in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 144th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services (current lcu), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.2%. 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 (current LCU), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Imports of goods and services (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Imports of goods and services Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs)
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
The year-on-year percentage change in Imports of goods and services (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.