Transport services in South Africa
South Africa: Transport services was 36.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Transport services in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service imports, BoP.
Analysis
In 2025, transport services in South Africa stood at 36.5%.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in South Africa peaked at 48.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 31.6%, in 1978.
South Africa ranks 70th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Transport services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of service imports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 48.0% | — |
| 1961 | 45.3% | -5.6% |
| 1962 | 42.4% | -6.5% |
| 1963 | 44.3% | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 46.5% | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 46.9% | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 42.9% | -8.7% |
| 1967 | 42.2% | -1.5% |
| 1968 | 40.5% | -4.0% |
| 1969 | 42.3% | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 44.3% | +4.8% |
| 1971 | 44.1% | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 38.8% | -12.0% |
| 1973 | 41.2% | +6.2% |
| 1974 | 47.9% | +16.2% |
| 1975 | 41.4% | -13.5% |
| 1976 | 38.3% | -7.4% |
| 1977 | 31.8% | -17.0% |
| 1978 | 31.6% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 35.5% | +12.2% |
| 1980 | 39.1% | +10.2% |
| 1981 | 44.5% | +13.8% |
| 1982 | 42.2% | -5.2% |
| 1983 | 37.1% | -12.2% |
| 1984 | 39.9% | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 43.3% | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 41.7% | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 39.1% | -6.1% |
| 1988 | 40.8% | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 43.6% | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 39.7% | -8.8% |
| 1991 | 42.4% | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 39.0% | -8.0% |
| 1993 | 35.9% | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 39.2% | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 38.7% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 41.2% | +6.6% |
| 1997 | 41.5% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 40.8% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 41.4% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 41.8% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 40.5% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 41.8% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 39.5% | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 42.7% | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 43.8% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 47.3% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 47.0% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 45.2% | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 39.1% | -13.5% |
| 2010 | 37.1% | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 40.4% | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 42.8% | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 42.5% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 43.0% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 39.8% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 35.9% | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 36.7% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 38.2% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 37.7% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 34.4% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 37.8% | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 43.7% | +15.6% |
| 2023 | 39.7% | -9.2% |
| 2024 | 36.9% | -7.0% |
| 2025 | 36.5% | -1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 36.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 31.5%, 1.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 36.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 40.6%, 90% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 44.1% | 40.5% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 39.5% | 31.6% | 47.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 41.1% | 37.1% | 44.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.0% | 35.9% | 42.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.9% | 39.1% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.4% | 35.9% | 43.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.2% | 34.4% | 43.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 67 Türkiye 38.3% compare
- 68 South Sudan 37.7% compare
- 69 Mozambique 36.8% compare
- 71 Kyrgyzstan 36.4% compare
- 72 Libya 36.0% compare
- 73 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 35.3% 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)
- 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 transport services in South Africa?
- Transport services in South Africa was 36.5% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.6% in 1978.
- How does South Africa rank for transport services?
- South Africa ranks 70th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Transport services (% of service imports, BoP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Transport services covers the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are services provided by non-residents to residents.