Transport services (% of commercial service imports) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Transport services (% of commercial service imports) was 38.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Transport services in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1977–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for transport services in Sub-Saharan Africa is 38.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 51.3% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 38.1%, in 1995.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 15th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Transport services (% of commercial service imports) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 47.4% | — |
| 1978 | 47.3% | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 47.1% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 47.5% | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 51.3% | +7.9% |
| 1982 | 49.0% | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 47.8% | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 49.7% | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 49.2% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 48.3% | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 46.6% | -3.5% |
| 1988 | 47.7% | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 48.4% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 46.3% | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 48.0% | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 47.0% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 41.1% | -12.6% |
| 1994 | 41.1% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 38.1% | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 38.3% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 40.0% | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 38.8% | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 40.1% | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 39.8% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 38.3% | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 38.5% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 39.2% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 43.0% | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 44.0% | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 42.2% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 42.8% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 43.4% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 41.2% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 41.3% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 41.7% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 44.8% | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 44.3% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 42.9% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 42.2% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 41.9% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 38.6% | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 39.1% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 39.1% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 38.1% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 42.3% | +11.0% |
| 2022 | 47.2% | +11.5% |
| 2023 | 43.2% | -8.4% |
| 2024 | 40.3% | -6.7% |
| 2025 | 38.1% | -5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.3% | 47.1% | 47.4% | 3 |
| 1980s | 48.5% | 46.6% | 51.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.9% | 38.1% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.2% | 38.3% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.6% | 38.6% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.5% | 38.1% | 47.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Food imports 12.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.9% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 501.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 147.11 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.6% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 19.5% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 486.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 88.65 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 368.33 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is transport services in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Transport services in Sub-Saharan Africa was 38.1% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 51.3% in 1981.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.1% in 1995.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for transport services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 15th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Transport services (% of commercial service imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Transport is the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are commercial services provided by non-residents to residents.