High-technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): High-technology exports was 2.86 billion current US$ in 2023. ▼ Falling
High-technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 2013–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2023, high-technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 2.86 billion current US$.
That represents a change of down 9.2% on the previous year and down 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, high-technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 4.20 billion current US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 2.51 billion current US$, in 2020.
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 31st of 39 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
High-technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3.50 billion current US$ | — |
| 2014 | 3.86 billion current US$ | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 4.20 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2016 | 3.35 billion current US$ | -20.1% |
| 2017 | 3.03 billion current US$ | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 3.01 billion current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 2.71 billion current US$ | -10.1% |
| 2020 | 2.51 billion current US$ | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 3.07 billion current US$ | +22.5% |
| 2022 | 3.15 billion current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 2.86 billion current US$ | -9.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 3.38 billion current US$ | 2.71 billion current US$ | 4.20 billion current US$ | 7 |
| 2020s | 2.90 billion current US$ | 2.51 billion current US$ | 3.15 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 28 Israel 19.43 billion current US$ compare
- 29 Denmark 17.12 billion current US$ compare
- 30 Slovakia 10.85 billion current US$ compare
- 31 Romania 10.71 billion current US$ compare
- 32 Russia 10.60 billion current US$ compare
- 33 Indonesia 10.41 billion current US$ compare
- 34 Türkiye 9.90 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Food imports 12.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.8% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 499.63 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.5% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 19.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 486.25 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 367.94 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2201 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 11.25 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is high-technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- High-technology exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 2.86 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest high-technology exports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 4.20 billion current US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest high-technology exports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.51 billion current US$ in 2020.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for high-technology exports?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 31st out of 39 groups with data for 2023.
- Is high-technology exports rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), published as part of High-technology exports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
High-technology exports are products with high R&D intensity, such as aerospace, computers, pharmaceuticals, scientific instruments, and electrical machinery.