Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle was 0.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle in South Africa stood at 0.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 38.3% on the previous year and down 49.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle in South Africa peaked at 1.5% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 112th of 204 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0.9% | — |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -14.5% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | +37.9% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | -29.7% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -11.6% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | +68.6% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | +25.4% |
| 2007 | 1.3% | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -9.2% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | +31.7% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | -37.6% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | -16.6% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | +8.0% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -11.8% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | +41.2% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -16.9% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -33.3% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -23.3% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 0.7% | +70.6% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | -38.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.3%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.6% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 109 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.4% compare
- 110 Dominica 0.4% compare
- 111 Azerbaijan 0.4% compare
- 113 Montenegro 0.4% compare
- 114 Nicaragua 0.4% compare
- 115 Mongolia 0.4% compare
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 middle in South Africa?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle in South Africa was 0.4% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.5% in 2009.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle?
- South Africa ranks 112th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Middle East & North Africa (% 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 Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa 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.