Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within was 8.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within 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 within in South Africa is 8.1%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 30.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in South Africa peaked at 13.0% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 132nd out of 203 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.1% | — |
| 1999 | 3.7% | +76.1% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | -44.8% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | +30.0% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | +25.3% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 4.2% | +37.6% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | -11.0% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | +28.7% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | +28.9% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | +19.0% |
| 2009 | 7.0% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 9.7% | +38.2% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 11.5% | +24.8% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 13.0% | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 10.4% | -19.5% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 11.7% | +21.0% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 9.9% | -11.3% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | -8.6% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | -9.4% |
| 2023 | 8.1% | -1.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 16.6%, 49% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.0%, 54% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.1% | 3.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 2.0% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.8% | 9.2% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9.9% | 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 within in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in South Africa was 8.1% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.0% in 2014.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within?
- South Africa ranks 132nd out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.0%. 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 within region (% 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 within region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from other low- and middle-income economies in the same World Bank region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are 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. No figures are shown for high-income economies, because they are a separate category in the World Bank classification of economies.