Imports of goods and services (current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services (current US$) was 126.02 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
126.02 billion current US$
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
43rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
128.02 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
1.70 billion current US$
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 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in South Africa stood at 126.02 billion current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 25.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 128.02 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.70 billion current US$, in 1961.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services (current US$) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.86 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 1.70 billion current US$ | -8.7% |
| 1962 | 1.76 billion current US$ | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 2.19 billion current US$ | +24.5% |
| 1964 | 2.65 billion current US$ | +21.1% |
| 1965 | 3.04 billion current US$ | +14.6% |
| 1966 | 2.86 billion current US$ | -5.8% |
| 1967 | 3.34 billion current US$ | +16.7% |
| 1968 | 3.31 billion current US$ | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 3.77 billion current US$ | +13.9% |
| 1970 | 4.54 billion current US$ | +20.3% |
| 1971 | 5.16 billion current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1972 | 4.74 billion current US$ | -8.1% |
| 1973 | 6.47 billion current US$ | +36.7% |
| 1974 | 10.20 billion current US$ | +57.5% |
| 1975 | 11.14 billion current US$ | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 10.27 billion current US$ | -7.8% |
| 1977 | 9.94 billion current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 11.63 billion current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1979 | 14.41 billion current US$ | +24.0% |
| 1980 | 22.03 billion current US$ | +52.8% |
| 1981 | 25.14 billion current US$ | +14.1% |
| 1982 | 20.41 billion current US$ | -18.8% |
| 1983 | 17.79 billion current US$ | -12.8% |
| 1984 | 17.73 billion current US$ | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 12.92 billion current US$ | -27.1% |
| 1986 | 14.23 billion current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1987 | 17.45 billion current US$ | +22.6% |
| 1988 | 20.85 billion current US$ | +19.4% |
| 1989 | 20.52 billion current US$ | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 21.02 billion current US$ | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 21.01 billion current US$ | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 22.58 billion current US$ | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 23.23 billion current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 26.96 billion current US$ | +16.1% |
| 1995 | 33.39 billion current US$ | +23.8% |
| 1996 | 33.34 billion current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 34.88 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 32.92 billion current US$ | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 30.29 billion current US$ | -8.0% |
| 2000 | 33.11 billion current US$ | +9.3% |
| 2001 | 30.90 billion current US$ | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 32.32 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 42.97 billion current US$ | +33.0% |
| 2004 | 58.54 billion current US$ | +36.3% |
| 2005 | 68.83 billion current US$ | +17.6% |
| 2006 | 84.08 billion current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2007 | 97.15 billion current US$ | +15.5% |
| 2008 | 106.60 billion current US$ | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 81.14 billion current US$ | -23.9% |
| 2010 | 102.77 billion current US$ | +26.7% |
| 2011 | 123.43 billion current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2012 | 123.56 billion current US$ | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 122.25 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 116.26 billion current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 100.59 billion current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 89.65 billion current US$ | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 99.92 billion current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 109.37 billion current US$ | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 103.94 billion current US$ | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 78.36 billion current US$ | -24.6% |
| 2021 | 104.88 billion current US$ | +33.9% |
| 2022 | 128.02 billion current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2023 | 123.69 billion current US$ | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 119.76 billion current US$ | -3.2% |
| 2025 | 126.02 billion current US$ | +5.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 126.02 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.60 billion current US$, 6.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 126.02 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.46 billion current US$, 19.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.65 billion current US$ | 1.70 billion current US$ | 3.77 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.85 billion current US$ | 4.54 billion current US$ | 14.41 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.91 billion current US$ | 12.92 billion current US$ | 25.14 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.96 billion current US$ | 21.01 billion current US$ | 34.88 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.56 billion current US$ | 30.90 billion current US$ | 106.60 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 109.17 billion current US$ | 89.65 billion current US$ | 123.56 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 113.45 billion current US$ | 78.36 billion current US$ | 128.02 billion current US$ | 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)
- 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)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units 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 126.02 billion current US$ 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 128.02 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.70 billion current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 43rd 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 25.3%. 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.