Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East was 27.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 27.2% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in South Africa peaked at 27.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 1998.
South Africa ranks 47th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 5.4% | — |
| 1999 | 7.2% | +33.4% |
| 2000 | 6.9% | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 7.2% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 8.7% | +19.6% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 11.2% | +12.5% |
| 2005 | 13.0% | +16.3% |
| 2006 | 13.9% | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 14.4% | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 15.3% | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 22.1% | +44.3% |
| 2010 | 19.1% | -13.6% |
| 2011 | 18.9% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 19.7% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 21.1% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 21.0% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | +16.3% |
| 2016 | 25.0% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 24.9% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 24.9% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 24.9% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 27.7% | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 27.6% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 27.1% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 27.2% | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 27.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.8%, 1.4× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 27.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.6%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.3% | 5.4% | 7.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 6.9% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.4% | 18.9% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.4% | 27.1% | 27.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 44 French Polynesia 28.3% compare
- 45 Djibouti 27.7% compare
- 46 Democratic Republic of Congo 27.4% compare
- 48 Saudi Arabia 26.6% compare
- 49 Madagascar 26.5% compare
- 50 Peru 26.4% 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 from low- and middle-income economies in east in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in South Africa was 27.2% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 27.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east?
- South Africa ranks 47th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia & Pacific (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia and Pacific are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the East Asia and Pacific region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.