Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita was 371.66 current US$ per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 371.66 current US$ per person.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 442.67 current US$ per person in 2013 and was at its lowest, 10.4 current US$ per person, in 1960.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 34th out of 44 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10.4 current US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 10.85 current US$ per person | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 11.12 current US$ per person | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 12.54 current US$ per person | +12.8% |
| 1964 | 15.55 current US$ per person | +24.0% |
| 1965 | 16.77 current US$ per person | +7.8% |
| 1966 | 16.54 current US$ per person | -1.4% |
| 1967 | 16.05 current US$ per person | -2.9% |
| 1968 | 16.82 current US$ per person | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 18.09 current US$ per person | +7.6% |
| 1970 | 21.06 current US$ per person | +16.4% |
| 1971 | 22.86 current US$ per person | +8.6% |
| 1972 | 24.45 current US$ per person | +7.0% |
| 1973 | 29.37 current US$ per person | +20.1% |
| 1974 | 40.35 current US$ per person | +37.4% |
| 1975 | 50.15 current US$ per person | +24.3% |
| 1976 | 52.74 current US$ per person | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 65.89 current US$ per person | +24.9% |
| 1978 | 71.44 current US$ per person | +8.4% |
| 1979 | 66.1 current US$ per person | -7.5% |
| 1980 | 51.05 current US$ per person | -22.8% |
| 1981 | 101.01 current US$ per person | +97.8% |
| 1982 | 79.38 current US$ per person | -21.4% |
| 1983 | 64.36 current US$ per person | -18.9% |
| 1984 | 51.33 current US$ per person | -20.2% |
| 1985 | 53.18 current US$ per person | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 48.05 current US$ per person | -9.6% |
| 1987 | 52.88 current US$ per person | +10.1% |
| 1988 | 52.89 current US$ per person | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 54.9 current US$ per person | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 67.31 current US$ per person | +22.6% |
| 1991 | 64.56 current US$ per person | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 79.01 current US$ per person | +22.4% |
| 1993 | 67.85 current US$ per person | -14.1% |
| 1994 | 64.83 current US$ per person | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 73.7 current US$ per person | +13.7% |
| 1996 | 74.18 current US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 74.13 current US$ per person | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 123.08 current US$ per person | +66.0% |
| 1999 | 110.48 current US$ per person | -10.2% |
| 2000 | 112.16 current US$ per person | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 112.32 current US$ per person | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 114.75 current US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 154.12 current US$ per person | +34.3% |
| 2004 | 185.47 current US$ per person | +20.3% |
| 2005 | 225.34 current US$ per person | +21.5% |
| 2006 | 263.35 current US$ per person | +16.9% |
| 2007 | 310.66 current US$ per person | +18.0% |
| 2008 | 384.5 current US$ per person | +23.8% |
| 2009 | 317.15 current US$ per person | -17.5% |
| 2010 | 349.88 current US$ per person | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 425.42 current US$ per person | +21.6% |
| 2012 | 429.35 current US$ per person | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 442.67 current US$ per person | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 439.6 current US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 365.15 current US$ per person | -16.9% |
| 2016 | 304.27 current US$ per person | -16.7% |
| 2017 | 320.53 current US$ per person | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 336.67 current US$ per person | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 324.36 current US$ per person | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 283.25 current US$ per person | -12.7% |
| 2021 | 322.64 current US$ per person | +13.9% |
| 2022 | 375.57 current US$ per person | +16.4% |
| 2023 | 371.66 current US$ per person | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.47 current US$ per person | 10.4 current US$ per person | 18.09 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 44.44 current US$ per person | 21.06 current US$ per person | 71.44 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 60.9 current US$ per person | 48.05 current US$ per person | 101.01 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 79.91 current US$ per person | 64.56 current US$ per person | 123.08 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 217.98 current US$ per person | 112.16 current US$ per person | 384.5 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 373.79 current US$ per person | 304.27 current US$ per person | 442.67 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 338.28 current US$ per person | 283.25 current US$ per person | 375.57 current US$ per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 31 Canada 14,627 current US$ per person compare
- 32 Latvia 14,514 current US$ per person compare
- 33 Aruba 14,277 current US$ per person compare
- 34 San Marino 12,766 current US$ per person compare
- 35 Brunei Darussalam 12,396 current US$ per person compare
- 36 Republic of Korea 12,384 current US$ per person compare
- 37 Seychelles 12,229 current US$ per person compare
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Food imports 12.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.8% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 501.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.7% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 19.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 486.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 368.33 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2201 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 11.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa was 371.66 current US$ per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 442.67 current US$ per person in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.4 current US$ per person in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 34th out of 44 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per capita rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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.