Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World was 3.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3.6% for merchandise exports to economies in the arab world in 2023.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to economies in the arab world in South Africa peaked at 3.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1999.
That places South Africa 85th out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.2% | — |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +16.2% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -6.2% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | +38.1% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | +19.4% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | -25.1% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | +13.8% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | +14.9% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | -11.5% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | +16.1% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.7%, 2.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.2%, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | 2.1% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 2.4% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4 |
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 merchandise exports to economies in the arab world in South Africa?
- Merchandise exports to economies in the arab world in South Africa was 3.6% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to economies in the arab world recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to economies in the arab world recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise exports to economies in the arab world?
- South Africa ranks 85th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to economies in the arab world rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World are the sum of merchandise exports by the reporting economy to economies in the Arab World. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.