Value of exported goods as a share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Value of exported goods as a share of GDP was 34.8% in 2014. ▬ Flat
Latest (2014)
34.8%
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
73rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
45.7%
in 1917
All-time low
6.3%
in 1932
Years of data
104
1911–2014
Value of exported goods as a share of GDP in South Africa, 1911–2014
Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 34.8% for value of exported goods as a share of gdp in 2014.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 53.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of exported goods as a share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 45.7% in 1917 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 1932.
South Africa ranks 73rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Value of exported goods as a share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 36.9% | — |
| 1912 | 39.0% | +5.6% |
| 1913 | 41.0% | +5.1% |
| 1914 | 35.4% | -13.6% |
| 1915 | 21.6% | -38.9% |
| 1916 | 35.6% | +64.8% |
| 1917 | 45.7% | +28.3% |
| 1918 | 30.8% | -32.5% |
| 1919 | 37.8% | +22.6% |
| 1920 | 27.9% | -26.2% |
| 1921 | 23.6% | -15.3% |
| 1922 | 26.0% | +10.0% |
| 1923 | 30.7% | +18.2% |
| 1924 | 13.8% | -55.0% |
| 1925 | 16.0% | +16.1% |
| 1926 | 13.5% | -16.0% |
| 1927 | 15.7% | +16.6% |
| 1928 | 15.6% | -0.7% |
| 1929 | 15.1% | -3.4% |
| 1930 | 11.2% | -25.6% |
| 1931 | 8.1% | -27.9% |
| 1932 | 6.3% | -21.9% |
| 1933 | 9.6% | +52.3% |
| 1934 | 8.7% | -9.0% |
| 1935 | 9.1% | +4.2% |
| 1936 | 8.1% | -11.3% |
| 1937 | 10.3% | +27.7% |
| 1938 | 7.8% | -24.2% |
| 1939 | 7.6% | -2.5% |
| 1940 | 8.7% | +14.3% |
| 1941 | 9.0% | +2.9% |
| 1942 | 9.5% | +6.4% |
| 1943 | 8.0% | -16.0% |
| 1944 | 11.0% | +37.0% |
| 1945 | 10.2% | -7.5% |
| 1946 | 12.0% | +17.8% |
| 1947 | 11.6% | -3.2% |
| 1948 | 14.0% | +20.6% |
| 1949 | 14.4% | +3.0% |
| 1950 | 18.8% | +30.5% |
| 1951 | 19.6% | +4.1% |
| 1952 | 17.3% | -11.3% |
| 1953 | 15.9% | -8.2% |
| 1954 | 13.1% | -17.7% |
| 1955 | 13.9% | +6.2% |
| 1956 | 14.8% | +6.5% |
| 1957 | 14.6% | -1.6% |
| 1958 | 15.1% | +3.5% |
| 1959 | 15.0% | -0.4% |
| 1960 | 14.8% | -1.4% |
| 1961 | 15.7% | +6.3% |
| 1962 | 16.4% | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 15.5% | -5.7% |
| 1964 | 16.6% | +7.6% |
| 1965 | 15.2% | -8.5% |
| 1966 | 15.4% | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 15.7% | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 15.9% | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 14.7% | -7.3% |
| 1970 | 13.3% | -9.7% |
| 1971 | 11.9% | -10.6% |
| 1972 | 13.9% | +16.9% |
| 1973 | 14.0% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 15.5% | +10.5% |
| 1975 | 17.5% | +13.4% |
| 1976 | 18.6% | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 21.8% | +17.6% |
| 1978 | 22.5% | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 23.4% | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 18.3% | -21.5% |
| 1981 | 15.1% | -17.8% |
| 1982 | 14.6% | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 11.9% | -18.4% |
| 1984 | 13.2% | +11.0% |
| 1985 | 17.6% | +33.2% |
| 1986 | 16.4% | -6.7% |
| 1987 | 11.4% | -30.7% |
| 1988 | 11.8% | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 12.9% | +8.7% |
| 1990 | 14.5% | +12.7% |
| 1991 | 13.9% | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 13.6% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 12.7% | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 13.8% | +8.6% |
| 1995 | 15.7% | +14.3% |
| 1996 | 18.2% | +15.9% |
| 1997 | 18.9% | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 19.7% | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 21.1% | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 23.6% | +12.1% |
| 2001 | 27.2% | +15.0% |
| 2002 | 28.9% | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 22.2% | -23.1% |
| 2004 | 22.6% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 22.1% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 24.3% | +10.3% |
| 2007 | 27.0% | +10.9% |
| 2008 | 34.4% | +27.3% |
| 2009 | 25.0% | -27.2% |
| 2010 | 24.3% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 29.8% | +22.6% |
| 2012 | 32.4% | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 34.3% | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 34.8% | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 36.0% | 21.6% | 45.7% | 9 |
| 1920s | 19.8% | 13.5% | 30.7% | 10 |
| 1930s | 8.7% | 6.3% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 1940s | 10.8% | 8.0% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1950s | 15.8% | 13.1% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 15.6% | 14.7% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.2% | 11.9% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.3% | 11.4% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.2% | 12.7% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.7% | 22.1% | 34.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.1% | 24.3% | 34.8% | 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 7,985 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 5.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2409 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 2.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4.31 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 28,432 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of exported goods as a share of gdp in South Africa?
- Value of exported goods as a share of gdp in South Africa was 34.8% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of exported goods as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.7% in 1917.
- What is the lowest value of exported goods as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 1932.
- How does South Africa rank for value of exported goods as a share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 73rd out of 193 countries with data for 2014.
- Is value of exported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Value of exported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total value of merchandise exports divided by gross domestic product (GDP), expressed as a percentage.