Share of global merchandise exports in South Africa
South Africa: Share of global merchandise exports was 0.5% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of global merchandise exports in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: UN Conference on Trade and Development and World Trade Organization – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.5% for share of global merchandise exports in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global merchandise exports in South Africa peaked at 0.6% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 38th of 219 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of global merchandise exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.5% | — |
| 2001 | 0.5% | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | +22.4% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 0.5% | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 0.6% | +12.2% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 0.5% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0.7139 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1196 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 789.38 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 5.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.295 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 1,946 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global merchandise exports in South Africa?
- Share of global merchandise exports in South Africa was 0.5% in 2024, according to UN Conference on Trade and Development and World Trade Organization – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of global merchandise exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of global merchandise exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for share of global merchandise exports?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global merchandise exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN Conference on Trade and Development and World Trade Organization – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of global merchandise exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global merchandise exports (%).