Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region was 28.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region 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 within region in South Africa stood at 28.3%.
That represents a change of up 13.1% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in South Africa peaked at 31.6% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 13.8%, in 2006.
That places South Africa 59th out of 203 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 within region in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 18.0% | — |
| 1999 | 19.0% | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 18.4% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 15.7% | -14.7% |
| 2002 | 17.5% | +11.6% |
| 2003 | 15.7% | -10.3% |
| 2004 | 14.4% | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 14.6% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 13.8% | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 14.1% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 16.5% | +16.9% |
| 2009 | 18.7% | +13.2% |
| 2010 | 27.6% | +47.8% |
| 2011 | 26.6% | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 30.0% | +12.8% |
| 2013 | 30.1% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 31.6% | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 30.7% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 29.7% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 27.8% | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 27.9% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 27.9% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 25.1% | -10.2% |
| 2021 | 22.4% | -10.7% |
| 2022 | 25.0% | +11.7% |
| 2023 | 28.3% | +13.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 28.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.5%, 1.8× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 28.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.5% | 18.0% | 19.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.9% | 13.8% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.0% | 26.6% | 31.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.2% | 22.4% | 28.3% | 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 within region in South Africa?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in South Africa was 28.3% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31.6% in 2014.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.8% in 2006.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. 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 within region (% 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 within region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in the same World Bank region 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. No figures are shown for high-income economies, because they are a separate category in the World Bank classification of economies.