Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per was 92,709 current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in South Africa is 92,709 current US$ per square kilometre, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in South Africa peaked at 95,923 current US$ per square kilometre in 2022 and was at its lowest, 21,583 current US$ per square kilometre, in 1999.
That places South Africa 125th out of 204 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$), per in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 23,712 current US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1999 | 21,583 current US$ per square kilometre | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 23,231 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.6% |
| 2001 | 21,920 current US$ per square kilometre | -5.6% |
| 2002 | 22,588 current US$ per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 29,584 current US$ per square kilometre | +31.0% |
| 2004 | 41,058 current US$ per square kilometre | +38.8% |
| 2005 | 47,162 current US$ per square kilometre | +14.9% |
| 2006 | 59,336 current US$ per square kilometre | +25.8% |
| 2007 | 74,765 current US$ per square kilometre | +26.0% |
| 2008 | 79,062 current US$ per square kilometre | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 58,604 current US$ per square kilometre | -25.9% |
| 2010 | 71,724 current US$ per square kilometre | +22.4% |
| 2011 | 88,727 current US$ per square kilometre | +23.7% |
| 2012 | 90,278 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 89,905 current US$ per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 86,752 current US$ per square kilometre | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 74,201 current US$ per square kilometre | -14.5% |
| 2016 | 64,957 current US$ per square kilometre | -12.5% |
| 2017 | 72,073 current US$ per square kilometre | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 80,630 current US$ per square kilometre | +11.9% |
| 2019 | 76,159 current US$ per square kilometre | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 59,489 current US$ per square kilometre | -21.9% |
| 2021 | 80,505 current US$ per square kilometre | +35.3% |
| 2022 | 95,923 current US$ per square kilometre | +19.2% |
| 2023 | 92,709 current US$ per square kilometre | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22,648 current US$ per square kilometre | 21,583 current US$ per square kilometre | 23,712 current US$ per square kilometre | 2 |
| 2000s | 45,731 current US$ per square kilometre | 21,920 current US$ per square kilometre | 79,062 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 79,541 current US$ per square kilometre | 64,957 current US$ per square kilometre | 90,278 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 82,156 current US$ per square kilometre | 59,489 current US$ per square kilometre | 95,923 current US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 122 Bhutan 100,144 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 123 Saudi Arabia 98,004 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 124 Iceland 94,043 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 126 Nepal 84,000 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 127 Uzbekistan 81,670 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 128 Haiti 77,784 current US$ per square kilometre 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 in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in South Africa was 92,709 current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 95,923 current US$ per square kilometre in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,583 current US$ per square kilometre in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per?
- South Africa ranks 125th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. 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$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), 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$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy Staff estimates, World Bank (WB)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.