Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita was 1,978 current US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports (current us$), per capita in South Africa is 1,978 current US$ per person, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports (current us$), per capita in South Africa peaked at 2,364 current US$ per person in 2012 and was at its lowest, 84.74 current US$ per person, in 1962.
South Africa ranks 125th 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$), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 99.09 current US$ per person | — |
| 1961 | 86.35 current US$ per person | -12.9% |
| 1962 | 84.74 current US$ per person | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 98.64 current US$ per person | +16.4% |
| 1964 | 123.22 current US$ per person | +24.9% |
| 1965 | 134.26 current US$ per person | +9.0% |
| 1966 | 121.64 current US$ per person | -9.4% |
| 1967 | 136.85 current US$ per person | +12.5% |
| 1968 | 133.08 current US$ per person | -2.8% |
| 1969 | 147.54 current US$ per person | +10.9% |
| 1970 | 172.49 current US$ per person | +16.9% |
| 1971 | 190.22 current US$ per person | +10.3% |
| 1972 | 167.22 current US$ per person | -12.1% |
| 1973 | 212.52 current US$ per person | +27.1% |
| 1974 | 314.38 current US$ per person | +47.9% |
| 1975 | 322.8 current US$ per person | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 276 current US$ per person | -14.5% |
| 1977 | 231.2 current US$ per person | -16.2% |
| 1978 | 273.24 current US$ per person | +18.2% |
| 1979 | 313.93 current US$ per person | +14.9% |
| 1980 | 663.91 current US$ per person | +111.5% |
| 1981 | 750.63 current US$ per person | +13.1% |
| 1982 | 582.22 current US$ per person | -22.4% |
| 1983 | 483 current US$ per person | -17.0% |
| 1984 | 470.75 current US$ per person | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 323.01 current US$ per person | -31.4% |
| 1986 | 359.09 current US$ per person | +11.2% |
| 1987 | 409.28 current US$ per person | +14.0% |
| 1988 | 486.56 current US$ per person | +18.9% |
| 1989 | 466.78 current US$ per person | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 451.55 current US$ per person | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 451.67 current US$ per person | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 465.04 current US$ per person | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 461.72 current US$ per person | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 530.93 current US$ per person | +15.0% |
| 1995 | 685.79 current US$ per person | +29.2% |
| 1996 | 668.88 current US$ per person | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 722.58 current US$ per person | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 632.62 current US$ per person | -12.5% |
| 1999 | 571.28 current US$ per person | -9.7% |
| 2000 | 629.67 current US$ per person | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 593.86 current US$ per person | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 609.48 current US$ per person | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 819.54 current US$ per person | +34.5% |
| 2004 | 1,091 current US$ per person | +33.2% |
| 2005 | 1,259 current US$ per person | +15.4% |
| 2006 | 1,574 current US$ per person | +25.1% |
| 2007 | 1,750 current US$ per person | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 1,988 current US$ per person | +13.6% |
| 2009 | 1,432 current US$ per person | -28.0% |
| 2010 | 1,850 current US$ per person | +29.2% |
| 2011 | 2,348 current US$ per person | +26.9% |
| 2012 | 2,364 current US$ per person | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 2,310 current US$ per person | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 2,194 current US$ per person | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 1,845 current US$ per person | -15.9% |
| 2016 | 1,601 current US$ per person | -13.2% |
| 2017 | 1,762 current US$ per person | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 1,944 current US$ per person | +10.3% |
| 2019 | 1,805 current US$ per person | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 1,388 current US$ per person | -23.1% |
| 2021 | 1,853 current US$ per person | +33.5% |
| 2022 | 2,184 current US$ per person | +17.8% |
| 2023 | 2,068 current US$ per person | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 1,929 current US$ per person | -6.7% |
| 2025 | 1,978 current US$ per person | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 116.54 current US$ per person | 84.74 current US$ per person | 147.54 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 247.4 current US$ per person | 167.22 current US$ per person | 322.8 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 499.52 current US$ per person | 323.01 current US$ per person | 750.63 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 564.2 current US$ per person | 451.55 current US$ per person | 722.58 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,175 current US$ per person | 593.86 current US$ per person | 1,988 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,002 current US$ per person | 1,601 current US$ per person | 2,364 current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,900 current US$ per person | 1,388 current US$ per person | 2,184 current US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 122 Ukraine 2,144 current US$ per person compare
- 123 Samoa 2,129 current US$ per person compare
- 124 Russian Federation 2,109 current US$ per person compare
- 126 Cambodia 1,899 current US$ per person compare
- 127 Guatemala 1,852 current US$ per person compare
- 128 China 1,836 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$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports (current us$), per capita in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports (current us$), per capita in South Africa was 1,978 current US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,364 current US$ per person in 2012.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports (current us$), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.74 current US$ per person in 1962.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports (current us$), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 125th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise imports (current us$), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. 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$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Merchandise imports (current US$) 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 (current US$) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Merchandise imports World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Merchandise imports (current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.