Textiles and clothing in South Africa
South Africa: Textiles and clothing was 1.8% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Textiles and clothing in South Africa, 1963–2019
Source: International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Measured in % of value added in manufacturing.
Analysis
The most recent figure for textiles and clothing in South Africa is 1.8%, measured in 2019.
The figure is down 41.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, textiles and clothing in South Africa peaked at 13.8% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1992.
South Africa ranks 116th of 154 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Textiles and clothing in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of value added in manufacturing | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 13.8% | — |
| 1964 | 13.3% | -3.7% |
| 1965 | 13.3% | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 13.1% | -1.6% |
| 1967 | 13.1% | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 13.2% | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 13.2% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 12.9% | -2.5% |
| 1971 | 12.9% | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 12.0% | -7.2% |
| 1973 | 11.6% | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 11.2% | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 10.8% | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 11.2% | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 11.2% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 9.1% | -18.5% |
| 1979 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 8.7% | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 8.9% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 8.3% | -7.1% |
| 1983 | 7.6% | -8.4% |
| 1984 | 7.8% | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 7.2% | -7.5% |
| 1986 | 7.9% | +9.4% |
| 1987 | 8.8% | +10.6% |
| 1988 | 8.0% | -8.6% |
| 1989 | 8.0% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 8.4% | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 8.0% | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | -81.0% |
| 1993 | 8.3% | +447.6% |
| 1994 | 8.6% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 8.2% | -5.4% |
| 1996 | 7.8% | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 6.2% | -20.8% |
| 1999 | 5.3% | -14.3% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 4.4% | -9.8% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | -8.9% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | -8.4% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -15.7% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | -42.7% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.4%, 33% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.5%, 32% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Textiles and clothing in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +447.6% | 1.5% | 8.3% |
| 1992 | -81.0% | 8.0% | 1.5% |
| 2010 | -42.7% | 3.1% | 1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 13.3% | 13.1% | 13.8% | 7 |
| 1970s | 11.2% | 9.1% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.1% | 7.2% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.0% | 1.5% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 3.0% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 10 |
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is textiles and clothing in South Africa?
- Textiles and clothing in South Africa was 1.8% in 2019, according to International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
- What is the highest textiles and clothing recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.8% in 1963.
- What is the lowest textiles and clothing recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for textiles and clothing?
- South Africa ranks 116th out of 154 countries with data for 2019.
- Is textiles and clothing rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), published as part of Textiles and clothing (% of value added in manufacturing). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 57 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Textiles and clothing refers to industries in ISIC (rev. 3) divisions 17-19 and includes manufacturing of textiles, apparel, dyeing of fur, and tanning of leather. Value added is the contribution to the economy by a producer or an industry or an institutional sector, which is estimated by the total value of output produced and deducting the total value of intermediate consumption of goods and services used to produce that output. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of value added in manufacturing which is the contribution to the economy by the manufacturing sector (ISIC Rev. 3 major division D).