Imports of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods and services was 29.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in South Africa is 29.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 33.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 1992.
South Africa ranks 142nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 21.3% | — |
| 1961 | 18.4% | -13.5% |
| 1962 | 17.9% | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 20.1% | +12.6% |
| 1964 | 22.1% | +10.0% |
| 1965 | 23.2% | +4.9% |
| 1966 | 20.1% | -13.4% |
| 1967 | 21.1% | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 19.3% | -8.3% |
| 1969 | 19.6% | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 21.4% | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 22.0% | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 19.3% | -12.3% |
| 1973 | 19.5% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 24.6% | +26.6% |
| 1975 | 26.0% | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 25.0% | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 21.9% | -12.2% |
| 1978 | 22.5% | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 22.9% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 24.6% | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 27.0% | +9.6% |
| 1982 | 23.8% | -12.0% |
| 1983 | 18.5% | -22.2% |
| 1984 | 20.9% | +13.0% |
| 1985 | 20.0% | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 19.4% | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 18.1% | -6.8% |
| 1988 | 20.0% | +10.9% |
| 1989 | 19.0% | -5.3% |
| 1990 | 16.7% | -12.2% |
| 1991 | 15.5% | -6.8% |
| 1992 | 15.4% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 15.8% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 17.6% | +11.3% |
| 1995 | 19.4% | +10.7% |
| 1996 | 20.4% | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 20.6% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 21.5% | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 20.0% | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 21.8% | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 22.8% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 25.0% | +9.7% |
| 2003 | 21.8% | -12.9% |
| 2004 | 22.9% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 23.8% | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 27.7% | +16.1% |
| 2007 | 29.2% | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 33.7% | +15.6% |
| 2009 | 24.6% | -27.0% |
| 2010 | 24.6% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 26.9% | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 28.4% | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 30.5% | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 30.5% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 29.0% | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 27.7% | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 26.2% | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 27.0% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 26.7% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 23.2% | -13.2% |
| 2021 | 25.0% | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 31.4% | +25.8% |
| 2023 | 32.4% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 29.9% | -7.9% |
| 2025 | 29.5% | -1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 29.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43.0%, 69% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 29.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 98% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20.3% | 17.9% | 23.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.5% | 19.3% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.1% | 18.1% | 27.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.3% | 15.4% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.3% | 21.8% | 33.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.8% | 24.6% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.6% | 23.2% | 32.4% | 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 in South Africa?
- Imports of goods and services in South Africa was 29.5% 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 33.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 142nd 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 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.