Primary income payments in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Primary income payments was 84.50 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary income payments in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1979–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary income payments in Sub-Saharan Africa is 84.50 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary income payments in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 90.90 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.46 billion BoP, current US$, in 1979.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 29th of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary income payments in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 5.46 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1980 | 8.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +53.4% |
| 1981 | 7.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.4% |
| 1982 | 7.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 7.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 7.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 8.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.4% |
| 1986 | 8.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 11.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.7% |
| 1988 | 12.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 12.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 14.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 13.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.3% |
| 1992 | 12.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 11.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.1% |
| 1994 | 11.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 10.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 11.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.8% |
| 1997 | 11.48 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 10.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.2% |
| 1999 | 13.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.9% |
| 2000 | 16.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2001 | 16.17 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 15.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 18.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.6% |
| 2004 | 21.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.9% |
| 2005 | 28.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.2% |
| 2006 | 37.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.7% |
| 2007 | 55.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.6% |
| 2008 | 64.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 2009 | 48.82 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.6% |
| 2010 | 65.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.1% |
| 2011 | 71.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 71.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 81.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.0% |
| 2014 | 71.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.6% |
| 2015 | 57.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.7% |
| 2016 | 52.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 67.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.6% |
| 2018 | 73.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2019 | 74.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 56.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.0% |
| 2021 | 75.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.9% |
| 2022 | 90.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.8% |
| 2023 | 88.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 84.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 1 |
| 1980s | 9.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 12.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 10.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 15.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 64.76 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 52.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 81.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 56.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 90.90 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 26 Republic of Korea 45.10 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 27 Malta 44.16 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 28 Russian Federation 43.32 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 29 Denmark 37.70 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 30 Czechia 37.01 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 31 Hungary 34.36 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 32 Malaysia 34.30 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI (current US$), per capita 1,624 current US$ per person (2025)
- GNI (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9709 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.9653 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GNI (current US$), annual growth rate 11.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per capita 1,610 current US$ per person (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9626 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,615 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per capita 16.47 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary income payments in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Primary income payments in Sub-Saharan Africa was 84.50 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest primary income payments recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 90.90 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest primary income payments recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.46 billion BoP, current US$ in 1979.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for primary income payments?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 29th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary income payments rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. 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 Primary income payments (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary income payments refer to employee compensation paid to nonresident workers and investment income (payments on direct investment, portfolio investment, other investments).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.