Commercial service imports in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Commercial service imports was 64.22 billion current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Commercial service imports in Africa Western and Central, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, commercial service imports in Africa Western and Central stood at 64.22 billion current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, commercial service imports in Africa Western and Central peaked at 77.88 billion current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.70 billion current US$, in 1984.
That places Africa Western and Central 42nd out of 45 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Commercial service imports in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 6.17 billion current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 6.35 billion current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 7.20 billion current US$ | +13.3% |
| 1980 | 10.29 billion current US$ | +43.0% |
| 1981 | 9.84 billion current US$ | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 8.07 billion current US$ | -18.0% |
| 1983 | 6.87 billion current US$ | -14.9% |
| 1984 | 5.70 billion current US$ | -17.0% |
| 1985 | 6.48 billion current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1986 | 6.04 billion current US$ | -6.8% |
| 1987 | 5.86 billion current US$ | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 5.82 billion current US$ | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 6.47 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 1990 | 8.03 billion current US$ | +24.1% |
| 1991 | 8.58 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 7.69 billion current US$ | -10.3% |
| 1993 | 8.66 billion current US$ | +12.7% |
| 1994 | 8.49 billion current US$ | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 6.80 billion current US$ | -20.0% |
| 1996 | 8.08 billion current US$ | +18.9% |
| 1997 | 7.49 billion current US$ | -7.3% |
| 1998 | 7.51 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 10.04 billion current US$ | +33.6% |
| 2000 | 9.74 billion current US$ | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 11.69 billion current US$ | +20.0% |
| 2002 | 12.43 billion current US$ | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 14.41 billion current US$ | +15.9% |
| 2004 | 16.00 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 17.67 billion current US$ | +10.4% |
| 2006 | 26.24 billion current US$ | +48.5% |
| 2007 | 32.61 billion current US$ | +24.3% |
| 2008 | 43.61 billion current US$ | +33.8% |
| 2009 | 36.33 billion current US$ | -16.7% |
| 2010 | 41.25 billion current US$ | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 47.46 billion current US$ | +15.1% |
| 2012 | 47.91 billion current US$ | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 48.20 billion current US$ | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 51.91 billion current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2015 | 46.12 billion current US$ | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 37.52 billion current US$ | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 48.68 billion current US$ | +29.7% |
| 2018 | 65.57 billion current US$ | +34.7% |
| 2019 | 77.88 billion current US$ | +18.8% |
| 2020 | 55.26 billion current US$ | -29.0% |
| 2021 | 55.08 billion current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 59.03 billion current US$ | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 63.24 billion current US$ | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 64.22 billion current US$ | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.57 billion current US$ | 6.17 billion current US$ | 7.20 billion current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 7.14 billion current US$ | 5.70 billion current US$ | 10.29 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.14 billion current US$ | 6.80 billion current US$ | 10.04 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.07 billion current US$ | 9.74 billion current US$ | 43.61 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.25 billion current US$ | 37.52 billion current US$ | 77.88 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.37 billion current US$ | 55.08 billion current US$ | 64.22 billion current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 39 Greece 30.73 billion current US$ compare
- 40 Iraq 29.76 billion current US$ compare
- 41 Hungary 29.63 billion current US$ compare
- 42 Argentina 29.07 billion current US$ compare
- 43 Qatar 28.92 billion current US$ compare
- 44 Kuwait 28.64 billion current US$ compare
- 45 Portugal 27.85 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for Africa Western and Central
- Merchandise trade 43.1% (2025)
- Food imports 15.3% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 54.3% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 163.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.1% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 7.0% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 204.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 383.07 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2394 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 20.81 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is commercial service imports in Africa Western and Central?
- Commercial service imports in Africa Western and Central was 64.22 billion current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest commercial service imports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 77.88 billion current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest commercial service imports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.70 billion current US$ in 1984.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for commercial service imports?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 42nd out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is commercial service imports rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Commercial service imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Commercial service imports are total service imports minus imports of government services not included elsewhere. Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.