Share of services in total exports in South Africa
South Africa: Share of services in total exports was 13.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of services in total exports in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of goods and services exports.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 13.4% for share of services in total exports in 2025.
The figure is up 6.3% on the previous year and down 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of services in total exports in South Africa peaked at 18.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 154th out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Share of services in total exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of goods and services exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.2% | — |
| 1961 | 11.0% | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 10.8% | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 11.2% | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 10.9% | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 11.2% | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 12.1% | +7.7% |
| 1967 | 12.6% | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 12.5% | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 13.1% | +5.3% |
| 1970 | 15.1% | +14.7% |
| 1971 | 16.3% | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 14.2% | -13.0% |
| 1973 | 13.7% | -3.1% |
| 1974 | 12.5% | -8.8% |
| 1975 | 14.4% | +15.0% |
| 1976 | 13.0% | -9.4% |
| 1977 | 11.9% | -8.5% |
| 1978 | 11.4% | -4.0% |
| 1979 | 10.3% | -10.0% |
| 1980 | 8.7% | -15.2% |
| 1981 | 11.1% | +26.7% |
| 1982 | 11.6% | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 10.9% | -5.7% |
| 1984 | 11.0% | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 9.8% | -11.2% |
| 1986 | 9.7% | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 9.1% | -6.3% |
| 1988 | 9.1% | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 11.4% | +25.6% |
| 1990 | 12.6% | +11.0% |
| 1991 | 12.2% | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 12.0% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 11.2% | -6.9% |
| 1994 | 12.5% | +11.7% |
| 1995 | 13.4% | +7.4% |
| 1996 | 14.3% | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 14.8% | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 15.6% | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 15.4% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 13.6% | -11.7% |
| 2001 | 13.5% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 13.9% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 18.3% | +31.9% |
| 2004 | 17.4% | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 17.4% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 15.7% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 13.4% | -14.3% |
| 2009 | 15.5% | +15.6% |
| 2010 | 15.0% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 13.8% | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 15.2% | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 15.1% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 15.6% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 16.1% | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 16.4% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 15.9% | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 15.0% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | -38.8% |
| 2021 | 7.1% | -23.3% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | +33.0% |
| 2023 | 11.4% | +21.4% |
| 2024 | 12.6% | +10.7% |
| 2025 | 13.4% | +6.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.7% | 10.8% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.3% | 10.3% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.2% | 8.7% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.4% | 11.2% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.5% | 13.4% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.3% | 13.8% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.5% | 7.1% | 13.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 151 Kazakhstan 14.2% compare
- 152 Niger 14.1% compare
- 153 Brazil 13.4% compare
- 155 Indonesia 13.2% compare
- 156 Mozambique 12.3% compare
- 157 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 11.2% 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)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 4.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1387 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 915.19 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.48 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 16,372 current LCU per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of services in total exports in South Africa?
- Share of services in total exports in South Africa was 13.4% in 2025, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of services in total exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.3% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of services in total exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for share of services in total exports?
- South Africa ranks 154th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of services in total exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of services in total exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Services refer to economic output of intangible commodities that may be produced, transferred, and consumed at the same time. The share of services in total exports comes from comparing trade in goods and services at current US dollars.