High-technology exports in South Africa
South Africa: High-technology exports was 5.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
High-technology exports in South Africa, 2007–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of manufactured exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for high-technology exports in South Africa is 5.7%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 15.2% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, high-technology exports in South Africa peaked at 7.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2019.
South Africa ranks 93rd of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
High-technology exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of manufactured exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 6.0% | — |
| 2008 | 5.5% | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 6.5% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 6.7% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 7.4% | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 5.7% | -14.7% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -7.2% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | +14.8% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 5.0% | -10.3% |
| 2024 | 5.7% | +15.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.1%, 94% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.2%, 2.6× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.8% | 5.5% | 6.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 4.9% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.0% | 5.7% | 5 |
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 high-technology exports in South Africa?
- High-technology exports in South Africa was 5.7% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest high-technology exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 2015.
- What is the lowest high-technology exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for high-technology exports?
- South Africa ranks 93rd out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is high-technology exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), published as part of High-technology exports (% of manufactured exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
High-technology exports are products with high R&D intensity, such as in aerospace, computers, pharmaceuticals, scientific instruments, and electrical machinery.