Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia was 14.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 14.1% for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia in 2023.
The figure is up 19.8% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia in South Africa peaked at 15.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1998.
South Africa ranks 64th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.3% | — |
| 1999 | 3.5% | +55.9% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | +14.4% |
| 2002 | 4.4% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 5.2% | +19.6% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | +18.6% |
| 2007 | 8.6% | +46.4% |
| 2008 | 8.2% | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 13.1% | +58.9% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 15.2% | +23.1% |
| 2012 | 14.1% | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 15.8% | +11.8% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | -22.3% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 11.9% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 12.8% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 14.1% | +10.2% |
| 2020 | 15.1% | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 14.0% | -7.2% |
| 2022 | 11.8% | -15.8% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | +19.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 14.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.1%, 2.3× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 14.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.1%, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.4% | 3.9% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.3% | 11.9% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 11.8% | 15.1% | 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 low- and middle-income economies in east asia in South Africa?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia in South Africa was 14.1% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. 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 low- and middle-income economies in East Asia & Pacific (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia and Pacific are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the East Asia and Pacific region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are 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.