Import unit value index (2015 = 100) in South Africa
South Africa: Import unit value index (2015 = 100) was 118.2 2015 = 100 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Import unit value index in South Africa, 1980–2025
Source: Handbook of Statistics and data files., UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Measured in 2015 = 100.
Analysis
The most recent figure for import unit value index in South Africa is 118.2 2015 = 100, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, import unit value index in South Africa peaked at 141.1 2015 = 100 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 60.4 2015 = 100, in 1985.
South Africa ranks 170th of 208 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Import unit value index (2015 = 100) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | 2015 = 100 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 84 2015 = 100 | — |
| 1981 | 84 2015 = 100 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 82.5 2015 = 100 | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 85.5 2015 = 100 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 71.5 2015 = 100 | -16.4% |
| 1985 | 60.4 2015 = 100 | -15.5% |
| 1986 | 68.5 2015 = 100 | +13.4% |
| 1987 | 81.1 2015 = 100 | +18.4% |
| 1988 | 79.6 2015 = 100 | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 78.1 2015 = 100 | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 84.7 2015 = 100 | +8.5% |
| 1991 | 83.2 2015 = 100 | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 85.5 2015 = 100 | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 81.1 2015 = 100 | -5.1% |
| 1994 | 81.1 2015 = 100 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 85.5 2015 = 100 | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 78.8 2015 = 100 | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 78.1 2015 = 100 | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 72.9 2015 = 100 | -6.7% |
| 1999 | 72.2 2015 = 100 | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 73.7 2015 = 100 | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 69.3 2015 = 100 | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 68.3 2015 = 100 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 84.7 2015 = 100 | +24.0% |
| 2004 | 99.9 2015 = 100 | +17.9% |
| 2005 | 105 2015 = 100 | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 108.3 2015 = 100 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 115.1 2015 = 100 | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 123 2015 = 100 | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 112.7 2015 = 100 | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 129.6 2015 = 100 | +15.0% |
| 2011 | 141.1 2015 = 100 | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 133 2015 = 100 | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 129.4 2015 = 100 | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 122.7 2015 = 100 | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 100 2015 = 100 | -18.5% |
| 2016 | 91.9 2015 = 100 | -8.1% |
| 2017 | 100.5 2015 = 100 | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 106.7 2015 = 100 | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 100.2 2015 = 100 | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 90.9 2015 = 100 | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 112.1 2015 = 100 | +23.3% |
| 2022 | 119.8 2015 = 100 | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 109.8 2015 = 100 | -8.3% |
| 2024 | 113.1 2015 = 100 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 118.2 2015 = 100 | +4.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 118.2 2015 = 100 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 125.65 2015 = 100, 94% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 118.2 2015 = 100 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 126.4 2015 = 100, 94% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 77.52 2015 = 100 | 60.4 2015 = 100 | 85.5 2015 = 100 | 10 |
| 1990s | 80.31 2015 = 100 | 72.2 2015 = 100 | 85.5 2015 = 100 | 10 |
| 2000s | 96 2015 = 100 | 68.3 2015 = 100 | 123 2015 = 100 | 10 |
| 2010s | 115.51 2015 = 100 | 91.9 2015 = 100 | 141.1 2015 = 100 | 10 |
| 2020s | 110.65 2015 = 100 | 90.9 2015 = 100 | 119.8 2015 = 100 | 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)
- Commercial service imports 21.49 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 38.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 116.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 17.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,798 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is import unit value index in South Africa?
- Import unit value index in South Africa was 118.2 2015 = 100 in 2025, according to Handbook of Statistics and data files., UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
- What is the highest import unit value index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 141.1 2015 = 100 in 2011.
- What is the lowest import unit value index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.4 2015 = 100 in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for import unit value index?
- South Africa ranks 170th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is import unit value index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Handbook of Statistics and data files., UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), published as part of Import unit value index (2015 = 100). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Import unit value indices come from UNCTAD's trade database. Unit value indices are based on data reported by countries that demonstrate consistency under UNCTAD quality controls, supplemented by UNCTAD’s estimates using the previous year’s trade values at the Standard International Trade Classification three-digit level as weights. To improve data coverage, especially for the latest periods, UNCTAD constructs a set of average prices indexes at the three-digit product classification of the Standard International Trade Classification revision 3 using UNCTAD’s Commodity Price Statistics, international and national sources, and UNCTAD secretariat estimates. This indicator is an index series where 2015=100.