Africa Eastern and Southern vs South Africa: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy

Africa Eastern and Southern
290.44 billion current US$
in 2023
South Africa
112.46 billion current US$
in 2023
Africa Eastern and Southern rank
39th
South Africa rank
39th

Merchandise imports by the reporting economy over time

  • Africa Eastern and Southern
  • South Africa
0100.0B200.0B300.0B196019912023

How they compare

Africa Eastern and Southern currently reports 290.44 billion current US$ against 112.46 billion current US$ in South Africa, a difference of 177.98 billion current US$.

That makes Africa Eastern and Southern's figure about 2.6 times South Africa's.

Across all 26 years both countries report, Africa Eastern and Southern has been ahead every year.

Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 39th and South Africa ranks 39th of 47 groups.

Africa Eastern and Southern has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Africa Eastern and Southern South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 47.30 billion current US$ 27.47 billion current US$ 19.83 billion current US$ Africa Eastern and Southern
2000s 113.12 billion current US$ 55.48 billion current US$ 57.65 billion current US$ Africa Eastern and Southern
2010s 235.81 billion current US$ 96.49 billion current US$ 139.32 billion current US$ Africa Eastern and Southern
2020s 256.35 billion current US$ 99.66 billion current US$ 156.68 billion current US$ Africa Eastern and Southern

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher merchandise imports by the reporting economy, Africa Eastern and Southern or South Africa?
Africa Eastern and Southern, at 290.44 billion current US$ against 112.46 billion current US$ in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in merchandise imports by the reporting economy between Africa Eastern and Southern and South Africa?
177.98 billion current US$, with Africa Eastern and Southern ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Africa Eastern and Southern and South Africa?
26 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2023.
How do Africa Eastern and Southern and South Africa rank globally for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 39th and South Africa ranks 39th of 47 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Africa Eastern and Southern vs South Africa: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy. Statizoid, drawing on Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://private-sector.statizoid.com/compare/merchandise-imports-by-the-reporting-economy-current-us/africa-eastern-and-southern/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$)
Unit
current US$
Source
Staff estimates, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
253 places, 13,515 data points, 1960–2023
Last refreshed

Merchandise imports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise imports by the reporting economy from the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current U.S. dollars.