Primary income receipts in South Africa
South Africa: Primary income receipts was 12.19 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
12.19 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 13.9%
World rank
45th
of 198 countries
All-time high
12.19 billion BoP, current US$
in 2025
All-time low
63.00 million BoP, current US$
in 1963
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Primary income receipts in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 12.19 billion BoP, current US$ for primary income receipts in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 13.9% on the previous year and up 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary income receipts in South Africa peaked at 12.19 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 63.00 million BoP, current US$, in 1963.
That places South Africa 45th out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary income receipts in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 65.80 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 64.40 million BoP, current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1962 | 74.20 million BoP, current US$ | +15.2% |
| 1963 | 63.00 million BoP, current US$ | -15.1% |
| 1964 | 84.00 million BoP, current US$ | +33.3% |
| 1965 | 88.20 million BoP, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 110.60 million BoP, current US$ | +25.4% |
| 1967 | 142.80 million BoP, current US$ | +29.1% |
| 1968 | 149.80 million BoP, current US$ | +4.9% |
| 1969 | 175.00 million BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 1970 | 176.40 million BoP, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 202.61 million BoP, current US$ | +14.9% |
| 1972 | 213.61 million BoP, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 381.23 million BoP, current US$ | +78.5% |
| 1974 | 303.79 million BoP, current US$ | -20.3% |
| 1975 | 307.53 million BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 365.70 million BoP, current US$ | +18.9% |
| 1977 | 264.50 million BoP, current US$ | -27.7% |
| 1978 | 396.75 million BoP, current US$ | +50.0% |
| 1979 | 574.79 million BoP, current US$ | +44.9% |
| 1980 | 574.00 million BoP, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 545.42 million BoP, current US$ | -5.0% |
| 1982 | 466.57 million BoP, current US$ | -14.5% |
| 1983 | 654.97 million BoP, current US$ | +40.4% |
| 1984 | 723.97 million BoP, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1985 | 971.98 million BoP, current US$ | +34.3% |
| 1986 | 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.9% |
| 1987 | 1.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1988 | 1.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.5% |
| 1989 | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 657.46 million BoP, current US$ | -45.0% |
| 1991 | 874.23 million BoP, current US$ | +33.0% |
| 1992 | 930.11 million BoP, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 695.86 million BoP, current US$ | -25.2% |
| 1994 | 972.40 million BoP, current US$ | +39.7% |
| 1995 | 1.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 1996 | 1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 1.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.9% |
| 1998 | 1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 1.79 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.5% |
| 2000 | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.2% |
| 2001 | 2.48 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 2.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.2% |
| 2003 | 2.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.1% |
| 2004 | 3.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.1% |
| 2005 | 4.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.4% |
| 2006 | 6.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.0% |
| 2007 | 6.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2008 | 5.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.6% |
| 2009 | 3.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.9% |
| 2010 | 4.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.1% |
| 2011 | 5.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.3% |
| 2012 | 5.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 6.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2014 | 7.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.7% |
| 2015 | 7.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 5.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.6% |
| 2017 | 6.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 7.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.1% |
| 2019 | 8.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 7.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 11.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +43.6% |
| 2022 | 11.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 11.79 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 10.71 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.2% |
| 2025 | 12.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 101.78 million BoP, current US$ | 63.00 million BoP, current US$ | 175.00 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 318.69 million BoP, current US$ | 176.40 million BoP, current US$ | 574.79 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 889.44 million BoP, current US$ | 466.57 million BoP, current US$ | 1.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.10 billion BoP, current US$ | 657.46 million BoP, current US$ | 1.79 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.88 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.66 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.88 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 12.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 42 Mauritius 12.98 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 43 Chile 12.88 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 44 Greece 12.21 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 46 New Zealand 10.77 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 47 Romania 10.31 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 48 Colombia 9.83 billion BoP, current US$ compare
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)
- GDP (current US$), annual growth rate 6.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current US$), per capita 6,598 current US$ per person (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per unit of GDP 17.89 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per capita 118,025 current LCU per person (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.8659 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita 5,713 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary income receipts in South Africa?
- Primary income receipts in South Africa was 12.19 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest primary income receipts recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.19 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary income receipts recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.00 million BoP, current US$ in 1963.
- How does South Africa rank for primary income receipts?
- South Africa ranks 45th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary income receipts rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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 receipts (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary income receipts refer to employee compensation paid to resident workers working abroad and investment income (receipts on direct investment, portfolio investment, other investments, and receipts on reserve assets). 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.