Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP was 58.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South Africa is 58.2%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 8.1% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South Africa peaked at 63.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 38.7%, in 2003.
South Africa ranks 97th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 39.3% | — |
| 2001 | 42.5% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 45.7% | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 38.7% | -15.3% |
| 2004 | 38.9% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 39.4% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 45.1% | +14.2% |
| 2007 | 47.5% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 57.7% | +21.5% |
| 2009 | 41.2% | -28.7% |
| 2010 | 45.1% | +9.5% |
| 2011 | 50.9% | +12.9% |
| 2012 | 52.2% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 55.5% | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 56.4% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 53.5% | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 51.9% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 49.9% | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 51.3% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 50.7% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 50.3% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 56.6% | +12.5% |
| 2022 | 63.6% | +12.4% |
| 2023 | 63.3% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 58.2% | -8.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.6% | 38.7% | 57.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.8% | 45.1% | 56.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.4% | 50.3% | 63.6% | 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 6.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1367 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 901.96 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1889 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,246 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 3.38 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South Africa?
- Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in South Africa was 58.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.6% in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.7% in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 97th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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