Trade of goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Trade of goods and services was 237.80 billion current US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
237.80 billion current US$
Change on year
up 19.2%
World rank
1st
of 53 countries
All-time high
237.80 billion current US$
in 2011
All-time low
4.08 billion current US$
in 1961
Years of data
52
1960–2011
Trade of goods and services in South Africa, 1960–2011
Source: World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2011, trade of goods and services in South Africa stood at 237.80 billion current US$. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.2% on the previous year and up 257.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade of goods and services in South Africa peaked at 237.80 billion current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 4.08 billion current US$, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 1st of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Trade of goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.12 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 4.08 billion current US$ | -1.0% |
| 1962 | 4.28 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1963 | 4.89 billion current US$ | +14.4% |
| 1964 | 5.51 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1965 | 5.95 billion current US$ | +8.0% |
| 1966 | 5.98 billion current US$ | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 6.72 billion current US$ | +12.4% |
| 1968 | 7.07 billion current US$ | +5.2% |
| 1969 | 7.63 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 1970 | 8.44 billion current US$ | +10.6% |
| 1971 | 9.48 billion current US$ | +12.3% |
| 1972 | 10.00 billion current US$ | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 13.69 billion current US$ | +36.9% |
| 1974 | 20.20 billion current US$ | +47.5% |
| 1975 | 21.37 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1976 | 20.11 billion current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1977 | 21.85 billion current US$ | +8.6% |
| 1978 | 26.29 billion current US$ | +20.3% |
| 1979 | 34.11 billion current US$ | +29.7% |
| 1980 | 50.52 billion current US$ | +48.1% |
| 1981 | 50.99 billion current US$ | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 42.71 billion current US$ | -16.2% |
| 1983 | 39.33 billion current US$ | -7.9% |
| 1984 | 41.85 billion current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 36.20 billion current US$ | -13.5% |
| 1986 | 41.61 billion current US$ | +14.9% |
| 1987 | 52.65 billion current US$ | +26.5% |
| 1988 | 59.27 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1989 | 60.06 billion current US$ | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 48.17 billion current US$ | -19.8% |
| 1991 | 47.16 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 50.44 billion current US$ | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 52.55 billion current US$ | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 56.98 billion current US$ | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 67.80 billion current US$ | +19.0% |
| 1996 | 68.88 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 71.48 billion current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 67.37 billion current US$ | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 64.03 billion current US$ | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 70.14 billion current US$ | +9.5% |
| 2001 | 66.59 billion current US$ | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 68.89 billion current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 89.87 billion current US$ | +30.4% |
| 2004 | 116.43 billion current US$ | +29.6% |
| 2005 | 136.45 billion current US$ | +17.2% |
| 2006 | 163.02 billion current US$ | +19.5% |
| 2007 | 187.49 billion current US$ | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 204.35 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 157.53 billion current US$ | -22.9% |
| 2010 | 199.52 billion current US$ | +26.7% |
| 2011 | 237.80 billion current US$ | +19.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.62 billion current US$ | 4.08 billion current US$ | 7.63 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.55 billion current US$ | 8.44 billion current US$ | 34.11 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 47.52 billion current US$ | 36.20 billion current US$ | 60.06 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 59.48 billion current US$ | 47.16 billion current US$ | 71.48 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 126.08 billion current US$ | 66.59 billion current US$ | 204.35 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 218.66 billion current US$ | 199.52 billion current US$ | 237.80 billion current US$ | 2 |
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)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,610 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 4.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.5058 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 3,337 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade of goods and services in South Africa?
- Trade of goods and services in South Africa was 237.80 billion current US$ in 2011, according to World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.
- What is the highest trade of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 237.80 billion current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest trade of goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.08 billion current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for trade of goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is trade of goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 257.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files, published as part of Trade of goods and services (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Trade is the sum of exports and imports of goods and services measured as a share of gross domestic product.