Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate was 3.73 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.73 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 167.1%
World rank
147th
of 206 countries
All-time high
118.02 % change on previous year
in 1980
All-time low
-29.06 % change on previous year
in 1985
Years of data
65
1961–2025
Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa stood at 3.73 % change on previous year.
That represents a change of up 167.1% on the previous year and up 126.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 118.02 % change on previous year in 1980 and was at its lowest, -29.06 % change on previous year, in 1985.
South Africa ranks 147th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -10.37 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 1.1 % change on previous year | -110.6% |
| 1963 | 19.99 % change on previous year | +1723.8% |
| 1964 | 28.8 % change on previous year | +44.1% |
| 1965 | 12.36 % change on previous year | -57.1% |
| 1966 | -6.55 % change on previous year | -153.0% |
| 1967 | 16.08 % change on previous year | -345.2% |
| 1968 | 0.3237 % change on previous year | -98.0% |
| 1969 | 14.34 % change on previous year | +4330.1% |
| 1970 | 20.51 % change on previous year | +43.0% |
| 1971 | 13.56 % change on previous year | -33.9% |
| 1972 | -9.53 % change on previous year | -170.3% |
| 1973 | 30.78 % change on previous year | -422.8% |
| 1974 | 52.16 % change on previous year | +69.5% |
| 1975 | 5.56 % change on previous year | -89.3% |
| 1976 | -12.15 % change on previous year | -318.5% |
| 1977 | -13.93 % change on previous year | +14.6% |
| 1978 | 21.45 % change on previous year | -254.0% |
| 1979 | 18.04 % change on previous year | -15.9% |
| 1980 | 118.02 % change on previous year | +554.1% |
| 1981 | 16.98 % change on previous year | -85.6% |
| 1982 | -19.71 % change on previous year | -216.1% |
| 1983 | -14.09 % change on previous year | -28.5% |
| 1984 | 0.898 % change on previous year | -106.4% |
| 1985 | -29.06 % change on previous year | -3335.7% |
| 1986 | 14.78 % change on previous year | -150.9% |
| 1987 | 17.59 % change on previous year | +19.0% |
| 1988 | 22.56 % change on previous year | +28.3% |
| 1989 | -1.2 % change on previous year | -105.3% |
| 1990 | -0.5352 % change on previous year | -55.5% |
| 1991 | 2.34 % change on previous year | -536.7% |
| 1992 | 4.83 % change on previous year | +106.6% |
| 1993 | 1.28 % change on previous year | -73.4% |
| 1994 | 16.87 % change on previous year | +1215.9% |
| 1995 | 30.75 % change on previous year | +82.3% |
| 1996 | -1.19 % change on previous year | -103.9% |
| 1997 | 9.33 % change on previous year | -883.0% |
| 1998 | -11.38 % change on previous year | -222.0% |
| 1999 | -8.71 % change on previous year | -23.5% |
| 2000 | 11.23 % change on previous year | -229.0% |
| 2001 | -4.87 % change on previous year | -143.4% |
| 2002 | 3.61 % change on previous year | -174.0% |
| 2003 | 35.81 % change on previous year | +892.7% |
| 2004 | 34.51 % change on previous year | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 16.53 % change on previous year | -52.1% |
| 2006 | 26.34 % change on previous year | +59.3% |
| 2007 | 12.37 % change on previous year | -53.0% |
| 2008 | 14.91 % change on previous year | +20.6% |
| 2009 | -27.14 % change on previous year | -282.0% |
| 2010 | 30.76 % change on previous year | -213.3% |
| 2011 | 28.5 % change on previous year | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 2.19 % change on previous year | -92.3% |
| 2013 | -0.648 % change on previous year | -129.6% |
| 2014 | -3.47 % change on previous year | +435.0% |
| 2015 | -14.19 % change on previous year | +309.1% |
| 2016 | -12.38 % change on previous year | -12.7% |
| 2017 | 10.78 % change on previous year | -187.1% |
| 2018 | 12.2 % change on previous year | +13.2% |
| 2019 | -5.64 % change on previous year | -146.2% |
| 2020 | -21.83 % change on previous year | +286.8% |
| 2021 | 35.6 % change on previous year | -263.1% |
| 2022 | 19.49 % change on previous year | -45.3% |
| 2023 | -4.01 % change on previous year | -120.6% |
| 2024 | -5.56 % change on previous year | +38.8% |
| 2025 | 3.73 % change on previous year | -167.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.45 % change on previous year | -10.37 % change on previous year | 28.8 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 12.64 % change on previous year | -13.93 % change on previous year | 52.16 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.68 % change on previous year | -29.06 % change on previous year | 118.02 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.36 % change on previous year | -11.38 % change on previous year | 30.75 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.33 % change on previous year | -27.14 % change on previous year | 35.81 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.81 % change on previous year | -14.19 % change on previous year | 30.76 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.57 % change on previous year | -21.83 % change on previous year | 35.6 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 144 Israel 3.94 % change on previous year compare
- 145 Kyrgyzstan 3.88 % change on previous year compare
- 146 Costa Rica 3.77 % change on previous year compare
- 148 Afghanistan 3.71 % change on previous year compare
- 149 Comoros 3.63 % change on previous year compare
- 150 Indonesia 3.51 % change on previous year 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$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa was 3.73 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 118.02 % change on previous year in 1980.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -29.06 % change on previous year in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 147th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise imports (current us$), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 126.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Merchandise imports (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Merchandise imports World Trade Organization (WTO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Merchandise imports (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.