Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita was 34,818 current LCU per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
34,818 current LCU per person
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
113th
of 193 countries
All-time high
36,101 current LCU per person
in 2023
All-time low
71.74 current LCU per person
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current LCU per person.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services (current lcu), per capita in South Africa stood at 34,818 current LCU per person.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 54.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services (current lcu), per capita in South Africa peaked at 36,101 current LCU per person in 2023 and was at its lowest, 71.74 current LCU per person, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 113th of 193 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), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 80.84 current LCU per person | — |
| 1961 | 71.74 current LCU per person | -11.3% |
| 1962 | 71.99 current LCU per person | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 86.94 current LCU per person | +20.8% |
| 1964 | 102.15 current LCU per person | +17.5% |
| 1965 | 113.57 current LCU per person | +11.2% |
| 1966 | 103.71 current LCU per person | -8.7% |
| 1967 | 117.36 current LCU per person | +13.2% |
| 1968 | 112.85 current LCU per person | -3.8% |
| 1969 | 124.59 current LCU per person | +10.4% |
| 1970 | 145.47 current LCU per person | +16.8% |
| 1971 | 160.71 current LCU per person | +10.5% |
| 1972 | 154.18 current LCU per person | -4.1% |
| 1973 | 184.94 current LCU per person | +20.0% |
| 1974 | 277.32 current LCU per person | +50.0% |
| 1975 | 320.74 current LCU per person | +15.7% |
| 1976 | 338.47 current LCU per person | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 318.71 current LCU per person | -5.8% |
| 1978 | 362.73 current LCU per person | +13.8% |
| 1979 | 423.83 current LCU per person | +16.8% |
| 1980 | 581.19 current LCU per person | +37.1% |
| 1981 | 722.34 current LCU per person | +24.3% |
| 1982 | 700.83 current LCU per person | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 605.27 current LCU per person | -13.6% |
| 1984 | 771.88 current LCU per person | +27.5% |
| 1985 | 821.78 current LCU per person | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 898.83 current LCU per person | +9.4% |
| 1987 | 952.04 current LCU per person | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 1,232 current LCU per person | +29.4% |
| 1989 | 1,358 current LCU per person | +10.3% |
| 1990 | 1,334 current LCU per person | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 1,392 current LCU per person | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 1,517 current LCU per person | +9.0% |
| 1993 | 1,753 current LCU per person | +15.6% |
| 1994 | 2,176 current LCU per person | +24.1% |
| 1995 | 2,719 current LCU per person | +24.9% |
| 1996 | 3,177 current LCU per person | +16.8% |
| 1997 | 3,519 current LCU per person | +10.8% |
| 1998 | 3,937 current LCU per person | +11.9% |
| 1999 | 3,960 current LCU per person | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 4,872 current LCU per person | +23.0% |
| 2001 | 5,592 current LCU per person | +14.8% |
| 2002 | 7,094 current LCU per person | +26.9% |
| 2003 | 6,702 current LCU per person | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 7,719 current LCU per person | +15.2% |
| 2005 | 8,845 current LCU per person | +14.6% |
| 2006 | 11,387 current LCU per person | +28.7% |
| 2007 | 13,545 current LCU per person | +19.0% |
| 2008 | 17,229 current LCU per person | +27.2% |
| 2009 | 13,291 current LCU per person | -22.9% |
| 2010 | 14,374 current LCU per person | +8.1% |
| 2011 | 16,912 current LCU per person | +17.7% |
| 2012 | 18,861 current LCU per person | +11.5% |
| 2013 | 21,576 current LCU per person | +14.4% |
| 2014 | 22,678 current LCU per person | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 22,612 current LCU per person | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 23,029 current LCU per person | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 23,081 current LCU per person | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 24,695 current LCU per person | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 25,201 current LCU per person | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 21,295 current LCU per person | -15.5% |
| 2021 | 25,203 current LCU per person | +18.4% |
| 2022 | 33,566 current LCU per person | +33.2% |
| 2023 | 36,101 current LCU per person | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 34,294 current LCU per person | -5.0% |
| 2025 | 34,818 current LCU per person | +1.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 34,818 current LCU per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 91,227 current LCU per person, 38% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 34,818 current LCU per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 185,374 current LCU per person, 19% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 98.57 current LCU per person | 71.74 current LCU per person | 124.59 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 268.71 current LCU per person | 145.47 current LCU per person | 423.83 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 864.4 current LCU per person | 581.19 current LCU per person | 1,358 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,548 current LCU per person | 1,334 current LCU per person | 3,960 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,628 current LCU per person | 4,872 current LCU per person | 17,229 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,302 current LCU per person | 14,374 current LCU per person | 25,201 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 30,880 current LCU per person | 21,295 current LCU per person | 36,101 current LCU per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 110 Malaysia 36,791 current LCU per person compare
- 111 Saudi Arabia 36,488 current LCU per person compare
- 112 Bermuda 35,647 current LCU per person compare
- 114 Antigua and Barbuda 34,188 current LCU per person compare
- 115 Sudan 32,960 current LCU per person compare
- 116 Gambia 32,600 current LCU per person 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 (current lcu), per capita in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services (current lcu), per capita in South Africa was 34,818 current LCU per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services (current lcu), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36,101 current LCU per person in 2023.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services (current lcu), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.74 current LCU per person in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services (current lcu), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 113th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services (current lcu), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.0%. 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), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Imports of goods and services (current LCU) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Imports of goods and services (current LCU) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Imports of goods and services Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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 (current LCU) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.