Computer, communications and other services in South Africa
South Africa: Computer, communications and other services was 37.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Computer, communications and other services in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for computer, communications and other services in South Africa is 37.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 81.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, computer, communications and other services in South Africa peaked at 47.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1961.
That places South Africa 84th out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Computer, communications and other services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.7% | — |
| 1961 | 5.0% | -12.5% |
| 1962 | 6.9% | +38.3% |
| 1963 | 7.5% | +9.1% |
| 1964 | 8.3% | +9.9% |
| 1965 | 7.9% | -4.8% |
| 1966 | 7.2% | -9.2% |
| 1967 | 10.4% | +44.6% |
| 1968 | 11.0% | +6.2% |
| 1969 | 9.1% | -17.7% |
| 1970 | 10.2% | +13.0% |
| 1971 | 8.7% | -15.2% |
| 1972 | 9.5% | +9.6% |
| 1973 | 7.8% | -18.2% |
| 1974 | 7.2% | -7.7% |
| 1975 | 6.7% | -6.4% |
| 1976 | 6.3% | -6.3% |
| 1977 | 5.7% | -9.8% |
| 1978 | 6.1% | +7.6% |
| 1979 | 6.2% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 6.5% | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 6.6% | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 6.8% | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 7.7% | +12.1% |
| 1984 | 7.5% | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 7.4% | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 7.8% | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 7.2% | -8.5% |
| 1988 | 6.3% | -11.7% |
| 1989 | 11.6% | +83.7% |
| 1990 | 11.2% | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 11.1% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 9.5% | -14.8% |
| 1993 | 8.1% | -14.6% |
| 1994 | 8.1% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 17.1% | +110.3% |
| 1996 | 15.3% | -10.5% |
| 1997 | 15.3% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 13.5% | -11.2% |
| 1999 | 12.7% | -6.0% |
| 2000 | 11.7% | -8.2% |
| 2001 | 14.7% | +25.9% |
| 2002 | 12.7% | -13.6% |
| 2003 | 10.7% | -15.9% |
| 2004 | 11.6% | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 10.8% | -9.0% |
| 2007 | 12.4% | +15.2% |
| 2008 | 14.0% | +12.8% |
| 2009 | 14.4% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 15.1% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 17.0% | +12.9% |
| 2012 | 17.1% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 18.4% | +7.8% |
| 2014 | 18.8% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 20.9% | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 22.5% | +8.0% |
| 2017 | 23.4% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 24.9% | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 24.5% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 40.4% | +65.1% |
| 2021 | 47.2% | +16.7% |
| 2022 | 38.7% | -18.0% |
| 2023 | 37.5% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 38.7% | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 37.9% | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.9% | 5.0% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.5% | 5.7% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.5% | 6.3% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.2% | 8.1% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.5% | 10.7% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.3% | 15.1% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.1% | 37.5% | 47.2% | 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 computer, communications and other services in South Africa?
- Computer, communications and other services in South Africa was 37.9% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest computer, communications and other services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest computer, communications and other services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for computer, communications and other services?
- South Africa ranks 84th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is computer, communications and other services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.8%. 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 Computer, communications and other services (% of commercial service exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Computer, communications and other services include such activities as international telecommunications, and postal and courier services; computer data; news-related service transactions between residents and nonresidents; construction services; royalties and license fees; miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services; and personal, cultural, and recreational services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service exports which are commercial services provided by residents to non-residents.