Imports of goods, services and primary income in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Imports of goods, services and primary income was 673.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods, services and primary income in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, imports of goods, services and primary income in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 673.88 billion BoP, current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods, services and primary income in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 690.25 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 49.65 billion BoP, current US$, in 1977.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 33rd of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods, services and primary income in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 49.65 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 56.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1979 | 65.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.1% |
| 1980 | 90.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +38.0% |
| 1981 | 98.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1982 | 82.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.4% |
| 1983 | 71.68 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.0% |
| 1984 | 66.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.8% |
| 1985 | 61.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.7% |
| 1986 | 58.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.4% |
| 1987 | 68.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.3% |
| 1988 | 75.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1989 | 77.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 87.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1991 | 89.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 91.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 92.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 97.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 102.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 107.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 112.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 111.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 121.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 2000 | 121.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 126.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 130.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 164.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2004 | 198.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.0% |
| 2005 | 249.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.4% |
| 2006 | 296.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.9% |
| 2007 | 377.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.5% |
| 2008 | 466.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.6% |
| 2009 | 390.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.3% |
| 2010 | 473.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.1% |
| 2011 | 568.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.0% |
| 2012 | 575.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 596.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 602.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 516.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.3% |
| 2016 | 447.40 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.4% |
| 2017 | 492.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2018 | 557.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 2019 | 577.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 475.98 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.5% |
| 2021 | 571.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.0% |
| 2022 | 690.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.8% |
| 2023 | 667.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 673.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 57.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 49.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 65.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 75.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 58.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 98.49 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 101.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 87.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 121.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 252.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 121.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 466.95 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 540.75 billion BoP, current US$ | 447.40 billion BoP, current US$ | 602.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 615.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 475.98 billion BoP, current US$ | 690.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 30 Indonesia 340.88 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 31 Malaysia 313.39 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 32 Denmark 295.57 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 33 Czechia 276.82 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 34 Norway 235.01 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 35 Hungary 202.88 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 36 Romania 196.76 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2382 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per capita 384.35 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2297 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 8.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 358.68 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2144 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 1.12 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,874 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods, services and primary income in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Imports of goods, services and primary income in Sub-Saharan Africa was 673.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 690.25 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.65 billion BoP, current US$ in 1977.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for imports of goods, services and primary income?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods, services and primary income rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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.