Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 38.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in South Africa is 38.6%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and up 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in South Africa peaked at 39.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 14.1%, in 1999.
That places South Africa 33rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 outside in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 14.9% | — |
| 1999 | 14.1% | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 15.0% | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 17.1% | +13.9% |
| 2002 | 17.6% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 19.1% | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 22.4% | +17.2% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 25.7% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 26.4% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 30.4% | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 34.3% | +12.9% |
| 2010 | 31.0% | -9.6% |
| 2011 | 31.4% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 30.1% | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 31.0% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 30.2% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 34.3% | +13.9% |
| 2016 | 34.7% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 34.5% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 33.4% | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 34.2% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 37.6% | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 37.9% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 39.5% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 38.6% | -2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 38.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.9× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 38.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.0%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.5% | 14.1% | 14.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 23.2% | 15.0% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.5% | 30.1% | 34.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.4% | 37.6% | 39.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 30 Saudi Arabia 39.1% compare
- 31 Paraguay 38.9% compare
- 32 Uzbekistan 38.8% compare
- 34 Guinea 38.4% compare
- 35 Kazakhstan 38.4% compare
- 36 Jordan 38.3% 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 outside in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in South Africa was 38.6% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.1% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.3%. 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 outside region (% 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 outside region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions 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.