Merchandise exports in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Merchandise exports was 486.80 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Trade Organization (WTO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, merchandise exports in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 486.80 billion current US$. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.2% on the previous year and up 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 486.80 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.80 billion current US$, in 1960.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.72 billion current US$ | 5.80 billion current US$ | 10.59 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 29.01 billion current US$ | 11.57 billion current US$ | 57.54 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.21 billion current US$ | 46.00 billion current US$ | 78.50 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.41 billion current US$ | 63.61 billion current US$ | 88.13 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 190.36 billion current US$ | 90.59 billion current US$ | 358.49 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 368.93 billion current US$ | 266.39 billion current US$ | 458.69 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 413.55 billion current US$ | 296.11 billion current US$ | 486.80 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 28 Czechia 283.62 billion current US$ compare
- 29 Indonesia 282.91 billion current US$ compare
- 30 Turkey 273.36 billion current US$ compare
- 31 Austria 222.03 billion current US$ compare
- 32 Sweden 208.33 billion current US$ compare
- 33 Norway 170.57 billion current US$ compare
- 34 Hungary 168.84 billion current US$ compare
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)
- Commercial service exports 82.17 billion current US$ (2024)
- Transport services 39.4% (2024)
- Computer, communications and other services 38.6% (2024)
- Commercial service imports 134.60 billion current US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Merchandise exports in Sub-Saharan Africa was 486.80 billion current US$ in 2025, according to World Trade Organization (WTO).
- What is the highest merchandise exports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 486.80 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.80 billion current US$ in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for merchandise exports?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise exports rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Trade Organization (WTO), published as part of Merchandise exports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Merchandise exports includes goods whose economic ownership is changed from a resident to a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.