Service exports in South Africa
South Africa: Service exports was 18.05 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
18.05 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 12.0%
World rank
55th
of 199 countries
All-time high
18.05 billion BoP, current US$
in 2025
All-time low
250.60 million BoP, current US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Service exports in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 18.05 billion BoP, current US$ for service exports in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 12.0% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, service exports in South Africa peaked at 18.05 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 250.60 million BoP, current US$, in 1960.
That places South Africa 55th out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Service exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 250.60 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 257.60 million BoP, current US$ | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 268.80 million BoP, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 302.40 million BoP, current US$ | +12.5% |
| 1964 | 309.40 million BoP, current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 327.60 million BoP, current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1966 | 378.00 million BoP, current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1967 | 427.00 million BoP, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1968 | 469.00 million BoP, current US$ | +9.8% |
| 1969 | 506.80 million BoP, current US$ | +8.1% |
| 1970 | 588.00 million BoP, current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1971 | 703.19 million BoP, current US$ | +19.6% |
| 1972 | 743.73 million BoP, current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1973 | 991.57 million BoP, current US$ | +33.3% |
| 1974 | 1.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.0% |
| 1975 | 1.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.8% |
| 1976 | 1.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.7% |
| 1977 | 1.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.8% |
| 1978 | 1.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.2% |
| 1979 | 2.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1980 | 2.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.6% |
| 1981 | 2.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 2.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1983 | 2.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 2.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.1% |
| 1985 | 1.77 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.1% |
| 1986 | 1.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.1% |
| 1987 | 2.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.0% |
| 1988 | 2.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 2.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1990 | 3.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.8% |
| 1991 | 3.19 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.1% |
| 1992 | 3.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 3.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 3.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.4% |
| 1995 | 4.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.1% |
| 1996 | 5.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1997 | 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 5.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 5.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 5.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 4.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 5.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 8.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +69.4% |
| 2004 | 10.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2005 | 11.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.0% |
| 2006 | 12.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 14.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.9% |
| 2008 | 13.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 12.98 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 16.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.8% |
| 2011 | 17.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 17.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 17.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 17.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 15.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 14.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 16.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2018 | 17.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 15.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 8.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -45.6% |
| 2021 | 9.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 12.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +38.8% |
| 2023 | 14.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.5% |
| 2024 | 16.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2025 | 18.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 349.72 million BoP, current US$ | 250.60 million BoP, current US$ | 506.80 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 588.00 million BoP, current US$ | 2.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.32 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.92 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.27 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.40 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.97 billion BoP, current US$ | 17.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.66 billion BoP, current US$ | 18.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 52 New Zealand 19.51 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 53 Bulgaria 18.62 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 54 Costa Rica 18.08 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 56 Argentina 18.04 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 57 Ukraine 17.31 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 58 Serbia 17.23 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 (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)
- GDP (constant LCU), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant LCU), per unit of GDP 11.04 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant LCU), per capita 72,846 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5972 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1528 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is service exports in South Africa?
- Service exports in South Africa was 18.05 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest service exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.05 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest service exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 250.60 million BoP, current US$ in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for service exports?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is service exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. 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 Service exports (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. 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.