Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 21.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in South Africa is 21.5%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.9% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in South Africa peaked at 22.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 8.6%, in 1998.
That places South Africa 63rd out of 206 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 low- and middle-income economies outside region in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 8.6% | — |
| 1999 | 9.2% | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 9.6% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 9.8% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 9.5% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 9.4% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 9.1% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 11.0% | +20.7% |
| 2006 | 11.6% | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 14.6% | +26.6% |
| 2008 | 15.3% | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 20.8% | +35.5% |
| 2010 | 19.7% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 22.4% | +13.9% |
| 2012 | 22.3% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 22.8% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 20.2% | -11.5% |
| 2015 | 20.2% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 20.1% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 21.9% | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 22.2% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 22.4% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 22.6% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 20.8% | -7.6% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 21.5% | +9.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 21.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 2.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 21.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.9% | 8.6% | 9.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.0% | 9.1% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.4% | 19.7% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.1% | 19.6% | 22.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 60 Marshall Islands 22.4% compare
- 61 Kazakhstan 22.2% compare
- 62 Turkey 22.0% compare
- 64 Zimbabwe 21.3% compare
- 65 Cuba 21.3% compare
- 66 North Korea 20.7% 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 outside region in South Africa?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in South Africa was 21.5% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22.8% in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.6% in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- South Africa ranks 63rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. 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 outside region (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions according to the World Bank classification of economies. 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.