Imports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa
South Africa: Imports of goods, services and primary income was 146.56 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
146.56 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
41st
of 200 countries
All-time high
147.87 billion BoP, current US$
in 2022
All-time low
2.13 billion BoP, current US$
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Imports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa stood at 146.56 billion BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of up 5.8% on the previous year and up 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa peaked at 147.87 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.13 billion BoP, current US$, in 1961.
That places South Africa 41st out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.26 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 2.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.4% |
| 1962 | 2.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 2.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.4% |
| 1964 | 3.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.8% |
| 1965 | 3.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.9% |
| 1966 | 3.40 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1967 | 3.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.5% |
| 1968 | 3.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 4.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1970 | 5.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.3% |
| 1971 | 6.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.8% |
| 1972 | 5.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.0% |
| 1973 | 7.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +38.3% |
| 1974 | 11.74 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.2% |
| 1975 | 13.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.4% |
| 1976 | 12.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.2% |
| 1977 | 11.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 13.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1979 | 17.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.2% |
| 1980 | 26.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.1% |
| 1981 | 29.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.2% |
| 1982 | 24.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.6% |
| 1983 | 21.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.7% |
| 1984 | 21.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 16.57 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.8% |
| 1986 | 18.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1987 | 21.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.7% |
| 1988 | 25.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1989 | 25.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 25.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 25.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 26.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 26.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 30.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1995 | 37.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1996 | 37.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 39.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 37.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 35.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 38.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.9% |
| 2001 | 37.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 37.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 50.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.4% |
| 2004 | 66.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.9% |
| 2005 | 78.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2006 | 94.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.2% |
| 2007 | 114.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.2% |
| 2008 | 122.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 92.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.5% |
| 2010 | 115.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.9% |
| 2011 | 139.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2012 | 140.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 138.57 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 133.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 116.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 104.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.7% |
| 2017 | 116.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.9% |
| 2018 | 128.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2019 | 122.19 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 92.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.2% |
| 2021 | 124.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.1% |
| 2022 | 147.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.0% |
| 2023 | 140.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2024 | 138.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 146.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 146.56 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 22.74 billion BoP, current US$, 6.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 146.56 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.72 billion BoP, current US$, 21.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.54 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 17.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.01 billion BoP, current US$ | 16.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 29.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.15 billion BoP, current US$ | 25.09 billion BoP, current US$ | 39.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 37.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 122.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 125.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 104.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 140.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 131.75 billion BoP, current US$ | 92.66 billion BoP, current US$ | 147.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 38 Philippines 181.55 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 39 Finland 162.88 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 40 Portugal 162.06 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 42 Greece 141.09 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 43 Slovakia 141.08 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 44 Chile 140.70 billion BoP, current US$ 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa?
- Imports of goods, services and primary income in South Africa was 146.56 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 147.87 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.13 billion BoP, current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for imports of goods, services and primary income?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods, services and primary income rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Imports of goods, services and primary income (BoP, current US$). 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. Primary income represents the return that accrues to institutional units for their contribution to the production process or for the provision of financial assets and renting natural resources to other institutional units. 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.