Trade as a share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Trade as a share of GDP was 60.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
60.9%
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
132nd
of 191 countries
All-time high
66.0%
in 2008
All-time low
34.3%
in 1992
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Trade as a share of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for trade as a share of gdp in South Africa is 60.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade as a share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 66.0% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 34.3%, in 1992.
South Africa ranks 132nd of 191 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Trade as a share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 46.9% | — |
| 1961 | 43.7% | -6.6% |
| 1962 | 43.4% | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 45.0% | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 45.9% | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 45.5% | -0.9% |
| 1966 | 42.1% | -7.5% |
| 1967 | 42.5% | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 41.3% | -2.8% |
| 1969 | 39.6% | -4.0% |
| 1970 | 39.8% | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 40.5% | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 40.8% | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 41.2% | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 48.8% | +18.6% |
| 1975 | 49.8% | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 48.9% | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 48.2% | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 51.0% | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 54.1% | +6.2% |
| 1980 | 56.5% | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 52.2% | -7.6% |
| 1982 | 47.1% | -9.7% |
| 1983 | 40.3% | -14.6% |
| 1984 | 43.4% | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 47.9% | +10.5% |
| 1986 | 46.6% | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 45.0% | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 45.9% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 42.7% | -6.9% |
| 1990 | 38.2% | -10.5% |
| 1991 | 34.9% | -8.7% |
| 1992 | 34.3% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 35.7% | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 37.1% | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 39.5% | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 42.2% | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 42.3% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 44.0% | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 42.3% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 46.2% | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 49.2% | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 53.5% | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 45.7% | -14.5% |
| 2004 | 45.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 47.4% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 53.8% | +13.4% |
| 2007 | 57.1% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 66.0% | +15.5% |
| 2009 | 49.6% | -24.8% |
| 2010 | 50.4% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 54.6% | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 55.6% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 58.9% | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 59.5% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 56.7% | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 55.9% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 53.5% | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 54.5% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 53.9% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 50.8% | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 56.2% | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 64.9% | +15.6% |
| 2023 | 65.7% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 61.6% | -6.1% |
| 2025 | 60.9% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 43.6% | 39.6% | 46.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.3% | 39.8% | 54.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.8% | 40.3% | 56.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.1% | 34.3% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.4% | 45.6% | 66.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.4% | 50.4% | 59.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.0% | 50.8% | 65.7% | 6 |
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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 7,985 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 5.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2409 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 2.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4.31 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 28,432 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade as a share of gdp in South Africa?
- Trade as a share of gdp in South Africa was 60.9% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest trade as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 66.0% in 2008.
- What is the lowest trade as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3% in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for trade as a share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 132nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is trade as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Trade as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Trade in goods and services as a share of GDP, shown as a percentage.