Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Trade was 55.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1960–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for trade in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) is 55.7%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 65.2% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 38.8%, in 1960.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 18th of 43 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 38.8% | — |
| 2011 | 65.2% | +67.9% |
| 2012 | 64.0% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 62.3% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 60.8% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 57.3% | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 55.1% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 54.2% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 56.6% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 55.5% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 51.1% | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 55.8% | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 59.0% | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 57.3% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 55.7% | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 38.8% | 38.8% | 38.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 59.0% | 54.2% | 65.2% | 9 |
| 2020s | 55.8% | 51.1% | 59.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.26 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 246.12 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1471 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 283.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1696 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 55.7% in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest trade recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 65.2% in 2011.
- What is the lowest trade recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.8% in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for trade?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 18th out of 43 groups with data for 2024.
- Is trade rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Trade (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 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. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.