Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP (LCU) in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP (LCU) was 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
97th
of 193 countries
All-time high
5.98 current LCU per US$ of GDP
in 2023
All-time low
0.1278 current LCU per US$ of GDP
in 1962
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current LCU per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP for imports of goods and services (current lcu), per unit of gdp in 2025.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and up 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services (current lcu), per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 5.98 current LCU per US$ of GDP in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.1278 current LCU per US$ of GDP, in 1962.
South Africa ranks 97th 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 unit of GDP (LCU) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.1519 current LCU per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.1315 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -13.5% |
| 1962 | 0.1278 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 0.1438 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +12.6% |
| 1964 | 0.1582 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +10.0% |
| 1965 | 0.1659 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +4.9% |
| 1966 | 0.1437 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -13.4% |
| 1967 | 0.1507 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 0.1381 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -8.3% |
| 1969 | 0.1398 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 0.1527 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 0.1575 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 0.1485 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -5.7% |
| 1973 | 0.1351 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -9.0% |
| 1974 | 0.1674 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +24.0% |
| 1975 | 0.192 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +14.7% |
| 1976 | 0.2171 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +13.1% |
| 1977 | 0.1907 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -12.2% |
| 1978 | 0.1959 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 0.1925 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -1.7% |
| 1980 | 0.1919 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 0.2369 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +23.4% |
| 1982 | 0.2579 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +8.9% |
| 1983 | 0.206 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -20.1% |
| 1984 | 0.3082 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +49.6% |
| 1985 | 0.4467 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +44.9% |
| 1986 | 0.4433 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 0.3681 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -17.0% |
| 1988 | 0.4558 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +23.8% |
| 1989 | 0.4981 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +9.3% |
| 1990 | 0.4314 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -13.4% |
| 1991 | 0.4291 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 0.4382 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 0.5158 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +17.7% |
| 1994 | 0.6237 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +20.9% |
| 1995 | 0.7051 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +13.1% |
| 1996 | 0.8781 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +24.5% |
| 1997 | 0.9511 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +8.3% |
| 1998 | 1.19 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +25.1% |
| 1999 | 1.22 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 1.51 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +24.0% |
| 2001 | 1.96 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +29.7% |
| 2002 | 2.64 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +34.4% |
| 2003 | 1.65 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -37.5% |
| 2004 | 1.48 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -10.4% |
| 2005 | 1.52 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 1.87 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +23.7% |
| 2007 | 2.05 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 2.79 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +35.6% |
| 2009 | 2.08 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -25.2% |
| 2010 | 1.8 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -13.5% |
| 2011 | 1.96 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 2.34 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +19.4% |
| 2013 | 2.94 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +26.0% |
| 2014 | 3.31 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +12.4% |
| 2015 | 3.7 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +11.9% |
| 2016 | 4.08 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +10.2% |
| 2017 | 3.49 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -14.4% |
| 2018 | 3.57 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 3.86 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +8.0% |
| 2020 | 3.82 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 3.69 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 5.14 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +39.2% |
| 2023 | 5.98 current LCU per US$ of GDP | +16.5% |
| 2024 | 5.47 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -8.5% |
| 2025 | 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP | -3.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.75 current LCU per US$ of GDP, 68% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 105.58 current LCU per US$ of GDP, 5% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.1451 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 0.1278 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 0.1659 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1749 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 0.1351 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 0.2171 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3413 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 0.1919 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 0.4981 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7383 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 0.4291 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 1.22 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.96 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 1.48 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 2.79 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 1.8 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 4.08 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 3.69 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 5.98 current LCU per US$ of GDP | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 94 Zambia 7.21 current LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 95 Sierra Leone 6.39 current LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 96 Solomon Islands 5.98 current LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 98 Tajikistan 5.17 current LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 99 Botswana 5.06 current LCU per US$ of GDP compare
- 100 Sweden 5.02 current LCU per US$ of GDP compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services (current lcu), per unit of gdp in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services (current lcu), per unit of gdp in South Africa was 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services (current lcu), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.98 current LCU per US$ of GDP in 2023.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services (current lcu), per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1278 current LCU per US$ of GDP in 1962.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services (current lcu), per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 97th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services (current lcu), per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.7%. 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 unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
Imports of goods and services (current LCU) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Imports of goods and services (current LCU) ÷ GDP (current US$)
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 (current LCU) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.