Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Latin in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Latin was 2.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Latin in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in latin in South Africa stood at 2.4%.
That represents a change of down 7.9% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in latin in South Africa peaked at 5.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 81st of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Latin in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.7% | — |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -24.2% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | +83.5% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -21.7% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | +10.8% |
| 2005 | 3.8% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | +21.8% |
| 2008 | 5.8% | +18.9% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | -36.2% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | -11.3% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | -12.7% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +17.6% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | +27.8% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | -19.4% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -11.5% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 2.4% | -7.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.4%, 1.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.5%, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.9% | 2.2% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.8% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 latin in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in latin in South Africa was 2.4% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in latin recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in latin recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in latin?
- South Africa ranks 81st out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in latin rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Latin America & the Caribbean (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Latin America and the Caribbean are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Latin America and the Caribbean 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.