Imports of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services was 2.25 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.25 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
60th
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.28 trillion current LCU
in 2023
All-time low
1.21 billion current LCU
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 current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in South Africa is 2.25 trillion current LCU, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 75.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 2.28 trillion current LCU in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.21 billion current LCU, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 60th 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 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.33 billion current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 1.21 billion current LCU | -8.7% |
| 1962 | 1.25 billion current LCU | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 1.56 billion current LCU | +24.5% |
| 1964 | 1.89 billion current LCU | +21.1% |
| 1965 | 2.17 billion current LCU | +14.6% |
| 1966 | 2.04 billion current LCU | -5.8% |
| 1967 | 2.38 billion current LCU | +16.7% |
| 1968 | 2.37 billion current LCU | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 2.69 billion current LCU | +13.9% |
| 1970 | 3.24 billion current LCU | +20.3% |
| 1971 | 3.69 billion current LCU | +13.8% |
| 1972 | 3.64 billion current LCU | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 4.49 billion current LCU | +23.4% |
| 1974 | 6.93 billion current LCU | +54.2% |
| 1975 | 8.24 billion current LCU | +18.9% |
| 1976 | 8.93 billion current LCU | +8.4% |
| 1977 | 8.64 billion current LCU | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 10.11 billion current LCU | +17.0% |
| 1979 | 12.14 billion current LCU | +20.1% |
| 1980 | 17.16 billion current LCU | +41.4% |
| 1981 | 22.06 billion current LCU | +28.6% |
| 1982 | 22.16 billion current LCU | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 19.82 billion current LCU | -10.6% |
| 1984 | 26.16 billion current LCU | +32.0% |
| 1985 | 28.80 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1986 | 32.52 billion current LCU | +12.9% |
| 1987 | 35.54 billion current LCU | +9.3% |
| 1988 | 47.39 billion current LCU | +33.4% |
| 1989 | 53.83 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 1990 | 54.38 billion current LCU | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 58.02 billion current LCU | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 64.40 billion current LCU | +11.0% |
| 1993 | 75.92 billion current LCU | +17.9% |
| 1994 | 95.75 billion current LCU | +26.1% |
| 1995 | 121.09 billion current LCU | +26.5% |
| 1996 | 143.34 billion current LCU | +18.4% |
| 1997 | 160.72 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 1998 | 181.97 billion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 1999 | 185.04 billion current LCU | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 229.76 billion current LCU | +24.2% |
| 2001 | 266.00 billion current LCU | +15.8% |
| 2002 | 340.64 billion current LCU | +28.1% |
| 2003 | 325.04 billion current LCU | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 378.18 billion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 2005 | 437.72 billion current LCU | +15.7% |
| 2006 | 569.33 billion current LCU | +30.1% |
| 2007 | 684.43 billion current LCU | +20.2% |
| 2008 | 880.64 billion current LCU | +28.7% |
| 2009 | 687.51 billion current LCU | -21.9% |
| 2010 | 752.37 billion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2011 | 896.25 billion current LCU | +19.1% |
| 2012 | 1.01 trillion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 2013 | 1.18 trillion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 2014 | 1.26 trillion current LCU | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 1.28 trillion current LCU | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 1.32 trillion current LCU | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 1.33 trillion current LCU | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 1.45 trillion current LCU | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 1.50 trillion current LCU | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 1.29 trillion current LCU | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 1.55 trillion current LCU | +20.2% |
| 2022 | 2.09 trillion current LCU | +35.1% |
| 2023 | 2.28 trillion current LCU | +9.0% |
| 2024 | 2.20 trillion current LCU | -3.8% |
| 2025 | 2.25 trillion current LCU | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.89 billion current LCU | 1.21 billion current LCU | 2.69 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.01 billion current LCU | 3.24 billion current LCU | 12.14 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.54 billion current LCU | 17.16 billion current LCU | 53.83 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 114.06 billion current LCU | 54.38 billion current LCU | 185.04 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 479.92 billion current LCU | 229.76 billion current LCU | 880.64 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.20 trillion current LCU | 752.37 billion current LCU | 1.50 trillion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.94 trillion current LCU | 1.29 trillion current LCU | 2.28 trillion current LCU | 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)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 5.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 11.78 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 77,700 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5921 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3,907 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 7.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8472 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services in South Africa was 2.25 trillion current LCU 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 2.28 trillion current LCU in 2023.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.21 billion current LCU in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 193 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 75.8%. 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 (current LCU). 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 current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.