Computer, communications and other services in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Computer, communications and other services was 32.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Computer, communications and other services in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1977–2024
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 Sub-Saharan Africa is 32.0%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 48.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, computer, communications and other services in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 44.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 1983.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 35th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Computer, communications and other services in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 18.8% | — |
| 1978 | 18.2% | -3.2% |
| 1979 | 16.1% | -11.6% |
| 1980 | 15.6% | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 18.6% | +19.7% |
| 1982 | 15.3% | -17.8% |
| 1983 | 13.6% | -11.1% |
| 1984 | 18.0% | +32.3% |
| 1985 | 23.9% | +32.7% |
| 1986 | 22.0% | -7.7% |
| 1987 | 32.5% | +47.6% |
| 1988 | 32.0% | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 44.0% | +37.3% |
| 1990 | 35.6% | -19.1% |
| 1991 | 35.4% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 35.2% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 35.7% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 38.4% | +7.5% |
| 1995 | 38.2% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 38.7% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 37.4% | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 35.7% | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 37.6% | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 39.4% | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 39.6% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 38.2% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 36.9% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 36.9% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 19.3% | -47.7% |
| 2006 | 25.9% | +34.0% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | -27.8% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 18.2% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 19.8% | +8.8% |
| 2011 | 21.6% | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 21.3% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 22.7% | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 21.5% | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 23.5% | +9.0% |
| 2016 | 20.2% | -13.9% |
| 2017 | 21.1% | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 21.3% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 22.0% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 36.3% | +64.6% |
| 2021 | 36.3% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 30.6% | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 30.7% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 32.0% | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.7% | 16.1% | 18.8% | 3 |
| 1980s | 23.6% | 13.6% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.8% | 35.2% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.1% | 18.2% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.5% | 19.8% | 23.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.2% | 30.6% | 36.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Food imports 12.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.8% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 501.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.7% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 19.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 486.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 368.33 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2201 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 11.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is computer, communications and other services in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Computer, communications and other services in Sub-Saharan Africa was 32.0% in 2024, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 44.0% in 1989.
- What is the lowest computer, communications and other services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 1983.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for computer, communications and other services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 35th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is computer, communications and other services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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.