Value of imported goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Value of imported goods and services was 104.21 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
104.21 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
42nd
of 170 countries
All-time high
110.09 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2023
All-time low
10.90 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Value of imported goods and services 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 constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 104.21 billion constant 2015 US$ for value of imported goods and services in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods and services in South Africa peaked at 110.09 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10.90 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 42nd of 170 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Value of imported goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 12.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1961 | 10.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | -9.2% |
| 1962 | 11.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 13.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.5% |
| 1964 | 16.31 billion constant 2015 US$ | +23.6% |
| 1965 | 17.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.8% |
| 1966 | 15.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | -10.8% |
| 1967 | 18.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.4% |
| 1968 | 18.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 20.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +13.1% |
| 1970 | 23.93 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1971 | 26.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.1% |
| 1972 | 23.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | -12.6% |
| 1973 | 25.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +11.2% |
| 1974 | 30.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.0% |
| 1975 | 29.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 26.55 billion constant 2015 US$ | -10.0% |
| 1977 | 22.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | -13.7% |
| 1978 | 22.94 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 22.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 27.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.1% |
| 1981 | 30.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | +13.7% |
| 1982 | 25.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | -17.4% |
| 1983 | 21.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | -16.1% |
| 1984 | 25.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | +19.8% |
| 1985 | 21.97 billion constant 2015 US$ | -14.0% |
| 1986 | 21.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 22.18 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 27.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | +21.9% |
| 1989 | 27.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 25.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | -5.8% |
| 1991 | 26.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 27.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 29.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 34.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.1% |
| 1995 | 39.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | +16.8% |
| 1996 | 43.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 45.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 46.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 42.71 billion constant 2015 US$ | -8.4% |
| 2000 | 44.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 45.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 47.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 51.35 billion constant 2015 US$ | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 59.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.5% |
| 2005 | 65.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.9% |
| 2006 | 77.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +18.3% |
| 2007 | 85.07 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 87.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 72.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | -17.7% |
| 2010 | 79.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | +10.8% |
| 2011 | 89.23 billion constant 2015 US$ | +11.8% |
| 2012 | 92.68 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 96.42 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 95.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 100.59 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 96.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 97.91 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 101.32 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 101.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 83.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | -17.6% |
| 2021 | 92.12 billion constant 2015 US$ | +9.7% |
| 2022 | 105.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | +15.0% |
| 2023 | 110.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 103.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | -6.4% |
| 2025 | 104.21 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.51 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10.90 billion constant 2015 US$ | 20.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 22.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | 30.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | 21.33 billion constant 2015 US$ | 30.77 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | 25.54 billion constant 2015 US$ | 46.61 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | 44.99 billion constant 2015 US$ | 87.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 95.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | 79.78 billion constant 2015 US$ | 101.88 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | 83.98 billion constant 2015 US$ | 110.09 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 39 Portugal 122.91 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 40 Luxembourg 116.25 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 41 Pakistan 115.33 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 43 Finland 104.00 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 44 Iraq 98.79 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 45 Greece 97.94 billion constant 2015 US$ 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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1684 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 1,111 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 2.15 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 14,168 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 6.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6307 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods and services in South Africa?
- Value of imported goods and services in South Africa was 104.21 billion constant 2015 US$ 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 value of imported goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 110.09 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.90 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for value of imported goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 170 countries with data for 2025.
- Is value of imported goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Value of imported goods and services. 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
Value of imported goods and market services received from the rest of the world. This data is expressed in US dollars, adjusted for inflation.