Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP was 60.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
60.8%
Change on year
down 6.6%
Rank
10th
of 37 groups
All-time high
66.1%
in 2022
All-time low
42.1%
in 2003
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa, 2000–2024

02040602000201220242000: 42.82001: 46.22002: 49.22003: 42.12004: 42.32005: 42.42006: 47.72007: 50.42008: 60.52009: 44.62010: 482011: 53.72012: 55.42013: 59.42014: 60.52015: 57.52016: 55.72017: 52.82018: 552019: 53.32020: 52.82021: 59.22022: 66.12023: 65.12024: 60.8

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Southern Africa recorded 60.8% for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.6% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa peaked at 66.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 42.1%, in 2003.

Southern Africa ranks 10th of 37 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Southern Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 42.8%
2001 46.2% +7.7%
2002 49.2% +6.7%
2003 42.1% -14.6%
2004 42.3% +0.6%
2005 42.4% +0.2%
2006 47.7% +12.5%
2007 50.4% +5.6%
2008 60.5% +20.1%
2009 44.6% -26.2%
2010 48.0% +7.5%
2011 53.7% +11.9%
2012 55.4% +3.2%
2013 59.4% +7.1%
2014 60.5% +1.9%
2015 57.5% -5.0%
2016 55.7% -3.0%
2017 52.8% -5.3%
2018 55.0% +4.2%
2019 53.3% -3.1%
2020 52.8% -0.9%
2021 59.2% +12.1%
2022 66.1% +11.8%
2023 65.1% -1.6%
2024 60.8% -6.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 46.8% 42.1% 60.5% 10
2010s 55.1% 48.0% 60.5% 10
2020s 60.8% 52.8% 66.1% 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 7 Slovakia 162.2% compare
  2. 8 Belgium 156.4% compare
  3. 9 Malaysia 149.4% compare
  4. 10 Czechia 143.0% compare
  5. 11 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 142.8% compare
  6. 12 Hungary 137.4% compare
  7. 13 Lesotho 125.3% compare

See the full ranking of 255 places →

More economy & growth data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa?
Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa was 60.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 66.1% in 2022.
What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 42.1% in 2003.
How does Southern Africa rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
Southern Africa ranks 10th out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Southern 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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Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-trade-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
255 places, 6,196 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed