Merchandise exports by continent of destination in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise exports by continent of destination was 0.3% in 2014. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2014)
0.3%
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
48th
of 192 countries
All-time high
2.9%
in 1918
All-time low
0.0%
in 1944
Years of data
101
1911–2014
Merchandise exports by continent of destination in South Africa, 1911–2014
Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2014, merchandise exports by continent of destination in South Africa stood at 0.3%.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 38.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports by continent of destination in South Africa peaked at 2.9% in 1918 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1944.
That places South Africa 48th out of 192 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports by continent of destination in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 0.1% | — |
| 1912 | 0.3% | +96.6% |
| 1913 | 0.2% | -41.9% |
| 1914 | 0.2% | +13.8% |
| 1915 | 0.6% | +219.4% |
| 1916 | 0.3% | -56.1% |
| 1917 | 0.6% | +102.6% |
| 1918 | 2.9% | +420.6% |
| 1919 | 0.4% | -85.9% |
| 1920 | 0.3% | -35.9% |
| 1921 | 0.2% | -38.5% |
| 1922 | 0.4% | +160.1% |
| 1923 | 0.5% | +14.3% |
| 1924 | 0.2% | -56.1% |
| 1925 | 0.4% | +79.0% |
| 1926 | 0.4% | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 0.3% | -30.0% |
| 1928 | 0.2% | -14.2% |
| 1929 | 0.1% | -41.4% |
| 1930 | 0.1% | -51.1% |
| 1931 | 0.1% | -8.4% |
| 1932 | 0.0% | -30.3% |
| 1933 | 0.1% | +28.2% |
| 1934 | 0.1% | +10.9% |
| 1935 | 0.1% | +8.3% |
| 1936 | 0.1% | +54.1% |
| 1937 | 0.1% | -11.8% |
| 1938 | 0.1% | -1.7% |
| 1939 | 0.0% | -83.5% |
| 1943 | 0.0% | -20.0% |
| 1944 | 0.0% | -12.2% |
| 1945 | 0.0% | +155.7% |
| 1946 | 0.0% | -15.9% |
| 1947 | 0.0% | +103.7% |
| 1948 | 0.4% | +735.2% |
| 1949 | 0.3% | -21.0% |
| 1950 | 0.4% | +43.4% |
| 1951 | 0.5% | +8.3% |
| 1952 | 0.3% | -27.5% |
| 1953 | 0.2% | -28.2% |
| 1954 | 0.3% | +15.2% |
| 1955 | 0.3% | -5.9% |
| 1956 | 0.2% | -5.9% |
| 1957 | 0.3% | +9.3% |
| 1958 | 0.3% | +12.2% |
| 1959 | 0.3% | +1.0% |
| 1960 | 0.4% | +18.9% |
| 1961 | 0.4% | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 0.3% | -25.7% |
| 1963 | 0.3% | +6.7% |
| 1964 | 0.3% | -12.2% |
| 1965 | 0.2% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 0.2% | -16.1% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | -4.3% |
| 1968 | 0.2% | +8.0% |
| 1969 | 0.2% | -11.0% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | -3.9% |
| 1971 | 0.2% | -16.6% |
| 1972 | 0.2% | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | +17.4% |
| 1974 | 0.2% | +33.3% |
| 1975 | 0.2% | -22.2% |
| 1976 | 0.2% | +9.9% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | +24.0% |
| 1978 | 0.2% | -11.1% |
| 1979 | 0.2% | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 0.2% | -13.9% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | -12.6% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -22.6% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -9.6% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | +60.9% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | -20.7% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -34.2% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -19.1% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | +17.0% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | -33.3% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -7.0% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | +104.4% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | +53.6% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | +16.9% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | +32.6% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +12.7% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | +17.2% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +13.3% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | +26.3% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | -8.3% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | +14.0% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -11.7% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | +24.9% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -46.2% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -22.7% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | +11.8% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 2.9% | 9 |
| 1920s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 7 |
| 1950s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 5 |
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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1684 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 1,111 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 2.15 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 14,168 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 6.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6307 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports by continent of destination in South Africa?
- Merchandise exports by continent of destination in South Africa was 0.3% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest merchandise exports by continent of destination recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9% in 1918.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports by continent of destination recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1944.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise exports by continent of destination?
- South Africa ranks 48th out of 192 countries with data for 2014.
- Is merchandise exports by continent of destination rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Merchandise exports by continent of destination. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Figures correspond to the value of merchandise exports by continental destination as a share of gross domestic product (GDP). All partner countries are classified into continent groupings according to OWID's classification.