Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita was 1,779 current US$ per person in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per person.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1,779 current US$ per person for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita in 2023.
The figure is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita in South Africa peaked at 2,036 current US$ per person in 2012 and was at its lowest, 559.03 current US$ per person, in 2001.
That places South Africa 122nd 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 imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 622.29 current US$ per person | — |
| 1999 | 560.29 current US$ per person | -10.0% |
| 2000 | 597.57 current US$ per person | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 559.03 current US$ per person | -6.4% |
| 2002 | 570.62 current US$ per person | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 739.94 current US$ per person | +29.7% |
| 2004 | 1,017 current US$ per person | +37.4% |
| 2005 | 1,156 current US$ per person | +13.7% |
| 2006 | 1,440 current US$ per person | +24.5% |
| 2007 | 1,795 current US$ per person | +24.7% |
| 2008 | 1,876 current US$ per person | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 1,374 current US$ per person | -26.8% |
| 2010 | 1,662 current US$ per person | +20.9% |
| 2011 | 2,031 current US$ per person | +22.2% |
| 2012 | 2,036 current US$ per person | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 1,995 current US$ per person | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 1,893 current US$ per person | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 1,587 current US$ per person | -16.2% |
| 2016 | 1,376 current US$ per person | -13.3% |
| 2017 | 1,517 current US$ per person | +10.2% |
| 2018 | 1,669 current US$ per person | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 1,550 current US$ per person | -7.1% |
| 2020 | 1,192 current US$ per person | -23.1% |
| 2021 | 1,588 current US$ per person | +33.3% |
| 2022 | 1,865 current US$ per person | +17.5% |
| 2023 | 1,779 current US$ per person | -4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 591.29 current US$ per person | 560.29 current US$ per person | 622.29 current US$ per person | 2 |
| 2000s | 1,113 current US$ per person | 559.03 current US$ per person | 1,876 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,732 current US$ per person | 1,376 current US$ per person | 2,036 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,606 current US$ per person | 1,192 current US$ per person | 1,865 current US$ per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 119 Peru 1,893 current US$ per person compare
- 120 Morocco 1,866 current US$ per person compare
- 121 Russian Federation 1,823 current US$ per person compare
- 123 Kyrgyzstan 1,763 current US$ per person compare
- 124 China 1,741 current US$ per person compare
- 125 Ecuador 1,718 current US$ per person 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$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita in South Africa was 1,779 current US$ per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,036 current US$ per person in 2012.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 559.03 current US$ per person in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 122nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy Staff estimates, World Bank (WB)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.