Commercial service imports in South Africa
South Africa: Commercial service imports was 21.49 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
21.49 billion current US$
Change on year
up 8.5%
World rank
48th
of 200 countries
All-time high
21.49 billion current US$
in 2025
All-time low
236.60 million current US$
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Commercial service imports in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for commercial service imports in South Africa is 21.49 billion current US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.5% on the previous year and up 40.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, commercial service imports in South Africa peaked at 21.49 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 236.60 million current US$, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 48th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Commercial service imports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 245.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 236.60 million current US$ | -3.4% |
| 1962 | 261.80 million current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1963 | 333.20 million current US$ | +27.3% |
| 1964 | 375.20 million current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1965 | 446.60 million current US$ | +19.0% |
| 1966 | 469.00 million current US$ | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 527.80 million current US$ | +12.5% |
| 1968 | 561.40 million current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1969 | 648.20 million current US$ | +15.5% |
| 1970 | 800.80 million current US$ | +23.5% |
| 1971 | 929.70 million current US$ | +16.1% |
| 1972 | 884.01 million current US$ | -4.9% |
| 1973 | 1.15 billion current US$ | +29.9% |
| 1974 | 1.48 billion current US$ | +28.7% |
| 1975 | 1.81 billion current US$ | +22.3% |
| 1976 | 1.50 billion current US$ | -17.0% |
| 1977 | 1.77 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 1978 | 2.09 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 1979 | 2.42 billion current US$ | +16.2% |
| 1980 | 3.32 billion current US$ | +36.9% |
| 1981 | 3.90 billion current US$ | +17.5% |
| 1982 | 3.39 billion current US$ | -13.2% |
| 1983 | 3.17 billion current US$ | -6.4% |
| 1984 | 2.89 billion current US$ | -8.8% |
| 1985 | 2.22 billion current US$ | -23.3% |
| 1986 | 2.65 billion current US$ | +19.6% |
| 1987 | 3.09 billion current US$ | +16.5% |
| 1988 | 3.19 billion current US$ | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 3.29 billion current US$ | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 3.68 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1991 | 3.67 billion current US$ | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 4.22 billion current US$ | +14.9% |
| 1993 | 4.54 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 4.90 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 1995 | 5.77 billion current US$ | +17.8% |
| 1996 | 5.52 billion current US$ | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 5.82 billion current US$ | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 5.48 billion current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1999 | 5.60 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 5.68 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 5.12 billion current US$ | -10.0% |
| 2002 | 5.38 billion current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 7.85 billion current US$ | +45.9% |
| 2004 | 10.06 billion current US$ | +28.3% |
| 2005 | 11.86 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2006 | 13.66 billion current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2007 | 15.70 billion current US$ | +14.9% |
| 2008 | 16.35 billion current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 14.71 billion current US$ | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 18.97 billion current US$ | +29.0% |
| 2011 | 20.16 billion current US$ | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 18.23 billion current US$ | -9.6% |
| 2013 | 17.52 billion current US$ | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 16.73 billion current US$ | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 15.30 billion current US$ | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 14.89 billion current US$ | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 16.20 billion current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2018 | 16.58 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 16.08 billion current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 11.05 billion current US$ | -31.3% |
| 2021 | 13.46 billion current US$ | +21.8% |
| 2022 | 18.16 billion current US$ | +34.9% |
| 2023 | 18.57 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 19.81 billion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2025 | 21.49 billion current US$ | +8.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 21.49 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.89 billion current US$, 5.5× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 21.49 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.39 billion current US$, 15.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 410.48 million current US$ | 236.60 million current US$ | 648.20 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.48 billion current US$ | 800.80 million current US$ | 2.42 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.11 billion current US$ | 2.22 billion current US$ | 3.90 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.92 billion current US$ | 3.67 billion current US$ | 5.82 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.64 billion current US$ | 5.12 billion current US$ | 16.35 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.07 billion current US$ | 14.89 billion current US$ | 20.16 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.09 billion current US$ | 11.05 billion current US$ | 21.49 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More private sector data for South Africa
- Merchandise trade 57.2% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 128.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 38.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 116.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,798 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2725 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is commercial service imports in South Africa?
- Commercial service imports in South Africa was 21.49 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest commercial service imports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.49 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest commercial service imports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 236.60 million current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for commercial service imports?
- South Africa ranks 48th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is commercial service imports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 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.