Merchandise imports (current US$), per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports (current US$), per square kilometre was 107,778 current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
107,778 current US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
125th
of 205 countries
All-time high
112,281 current US$ per square kilometre
in 2022
All-time low
1,204 current US$ per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Merchandise imports (current US$), per square kilometre in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre in South Africa is 107,778 current US$ per square kilometre, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 4.0% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 112,281 current US$ per square kilometre in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1,204 current US$ per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places South Africa 125th out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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$), per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,204 current US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 1,217 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 1,460 current US$ per square kilometre | +20.0% |
| 1964 | 1,880 current US$ per square kilometre | +28.8% |
| 1965 | 2,113 current US$ per square kilometre | +12.4% |
| 1966 | 1,974 current US$ per square kilometre | -6.6% |
| 1967 | 2,292 current US$ per square kilometre | +16.1% |
| 1968 | 2,299 current US$ per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 2,629 current US$ per square kilometre | +14.3% |
| 1970 | 3,168 current US$ per square kilometre | +20.5% |
| 1971 | 3,597 current US$ per square kilometre | +13.6% |
| 1972 | 3,254 current US$ per square kilometre | -9.5% |
| 1973 | 4,256 current US$ per square kilometre | +30.8% |
| 1974 | 6,476 current US$ per square kilometre | +52.2% |
| 1975 | 6,836 current US$ per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 1976 | 6,005 current US$ per square kilometre | -12.2% |
| 1977 | 5,169 current US$ per square kilometre | -13.9% |
| 1978 | 6,277 current US$ per square kilometre | +21.5% |
| 1979 | 7,410 current US$ per square kilometre | +18.0% |
| 1980 | 16,155 current US$ per square kilometre | +118.0% |
| 1981 | 18,898 current US$ per square kilometre | +17.0% |
| 1982 | 15,174 current US$ per square kilometre | -19.7% |
| 1983 | 13,035 current US$ per square kilometre | -14.1% |
| 1984 | 13,152 current US$ per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 9,331 current US$ per square kilometre | -29.1% |
| 1986 | 10,710 current US$ per square kilometre | +14.8% |
| 1987 | 12,594 current US$ per square kilometre | +17.6% |
| 1988 | 15,434 current US$ per square kilometre | +22.6% |
| 1989 | 15,249 current US$ per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 15,167 current US$ per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 15,522 current US$ per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 16,271 current US$ per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 16,479 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 19,259 current US$ per square kilometre | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 25,180 current US$ per square kilometre | +30.7% |
| 1996 | 24,880 current US$ per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 27,202 current US$ per square kilometre | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 24,105 current US$ per square kilometre | -11.4% |
| 1999 | 22,007 current US$ per square kilometre | -8.7% |
| 2000 | 24,479 current US$ per square kilometre | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 23,286 current US$ per square kilometre | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 24,126 current US$ per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 32,766 current US$ per square kilometre | +35.8% |
| 2004 | 44,074 current US$ per square kilometre | +34.5% |
| 2005 | 51,360 current US$ per square kilometre | +16.5% |
| 2006 | 64,888 current US$ per square kilometre | +26.3% |
| 2007 | 72,913 current US$ per square kilometre | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 83,786 current US$ per square kilometre | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 61,046 current US$ per square kilometre | -27.1% |
| 2010 | 79,825 current US$ per square kilometre | +30.8% |
| 2011 | 102,573 current US$ per square kilometre | +28.5% |
| 2012 | 104,818 current US$ per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 104,139 current US$ per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 100,528 current US$ per square kilometre | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 86,268 current US$ per square kilometre | -14.2% |
| 2016 | 75,586 current US$ per square kilometre | -12.4% |
| 2017 | 83,733 current US$ per square kilometre | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 93,951 current US$ per square kilometre | +12.2% |
| 2019 | 88,649 current US$ per square kilometre | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 69,296 current US$ per square kilometre | -21.8% |
| 2021 | 93,966 current US$ per square kilometre | +35.6% |
| 2022 | 112,281 current US$ per square kilometre | +19.5% |
| 2023 | 107,778 current US$ per square kilometre | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,896 current US$ per square kilometre | 1,204 current US$ per square kilometre | 2,629 current US$ per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 5,245 current US$ per square kilometre | 3,168 current US$ per square kilometre | 7,410 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 13,973 current US$ per square kilometre | 9,331 current US$ per square kilometre | 18,898 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 20,607 current US$ per square kilometre | 15,167 current US$ per square kilometre | 27,202 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 48,272 current US$ per square kilometre | 23,286 current US$ per square kilometre | 83,786 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 92,007 current US$ per square kilometre | 75,586 current US$ per square kilometre | 104,818 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 95,830 current US$ per square kilometre | 69,296 current US$ per square kilometre | 112,281 current US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 122 Indonesia 117,241 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 123 Chile 114,764 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 124 Ukraine 110,054 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 126 Saudi Arabia 96,265 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 127 Iceland 93,821 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 128 Nicaragua 90,710 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$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre in South Africa was 107,778 current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 112,281 current US$ per square kilometre in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,204 current US$ per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 125th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. 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$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Merchandise imports (current US$) 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 (current US$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Merchandise imports World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Merchandise imports (current US$) 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.