Computer, communications and other services in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Computer, communications and other services was 35.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Computer, communications and other services in Africa Western and Central, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service imports.
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 35.9% for computer, communications and other services in 2024.
The figure is down 4.3% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, computer, communications and other services in Africa Western and Central peaked at 47.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 1991.
Africa Western and Central ranks 34th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Computer, communications and other services in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 30.8% | — |
| 1978 | 31.5% | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 36.5% | +16.0% |
| 1980 | 36.6% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 30.8% | -15.9% |
| 1982 | 30.9% | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 29.8% | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 31.6% | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 34.5% | +9.3% |
| 1986 | 38.3% | +10.8% |
| 1987 | 39.6% | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 33.7% | -14.8% |
| 1989 | 27.3% | -18.9% |
| 1990 | 31.8% | +16.6% |
| 1991 | 24.6% | -22.9% |
| 1992 | 27.6% | +12.2% |
| 1993 | 42.5% | +54.1% |
| 1994 | 38.0% | -10.6% |
| 1995 | 42.6% | +12.0% |
| 1996 | 47.2% | +10.9% |
| 1997 | 39.1% | -17.2% |
| 1998 | 38.0% | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 45.4% | +19.3% |
| 2000 | 46.3% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 45.9% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 47.2% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 40.3% | -14.7% |
| 2005 | 37.1% | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 35.2% | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 30.0% | -14.7% |
| 2008 | 26.2% | -12.9% |
| 2009 | 31.3% | +19.6% |
| 2010 | 31.5% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 31.9% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 31.4% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 33.1% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 35.7% | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 32.1% | -10.1% |
| 2016 | 31.7% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 37.4% | +17.9% |
| 2018 | 41.1% | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 42.3% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 44.4% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 37.0% | -16.7% |
| 2022 | 31.6% | -14.4% |
| 2023 | 37.5% | +18.5% |
| 2024 | 35.9% | -4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.9% | 30.8% | 36.5% | 3 |
| 1980s | 33.3% | 27.3% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.7% | 24.6% | 47.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.7% | 26.2% | 47.2% | 9 |
| 2010s | 34.8% | 31.4% | 42.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.3% | 31.6% | 44.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
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 computer, communications and other services in Africa Western and Central?
- Computer, communications and other services in Africa Western and Central was 35.9% 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 Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 47.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest computer, communications and other services recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 1991.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for computer, communications and other services?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is computer, communications and other services rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Computer, communications and other services (% of commercial service imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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 imports which are commercial services provided by non-residents to residents.