South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Food imports

South Africa
4.95 billion constant US$
in 2004
Sub-Saharan Africa
3.55 billion constant US$
in 2011
South Africa rank
1st
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
2nd

Food imports over time

  • South Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
02.0B4.0B6.0B8.0B10.0B196519882011

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 4.95 billion constant US$ against 3.55 billion constant US$ in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 1.39 billion constant US$.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.4 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

Across all 40 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 1st and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 38 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 666.08 million constant US$ 930.48 million constant US$ 264.40 million constant US$ Sub-Saharan Africa
1970s 639.06 million constant US$ 1.47 billion constant US$ 828.18 million constant US$ Sub-Saharan Africa
1980s 846.04 million constant US$ 3.96 billion constant US$ 3.11 billion constant US$ Sub-Saharan Africa
1990s 1.10 billion constant US$ 5.31 billion constant US$ 4.20 billion constant US$ Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s 3.17 billion constant US$ 7.56 billion constant US$ 4.38 billion constant US$ Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher food imports, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa?
South Africa, at 4.95 billion constant US$ against 3.55 billion constant US$ in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2004.
What is the difference in food imports between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?
1.39 billion constant US$, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?
40 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2004.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for food imports?
South Africa ranks 1st and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 38 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank country economists, published as Food imports (constant US$). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Food imports. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://trade.statizoid.com/compare/food-imports-constant-us/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Food imports (constant US$)
Unit
constant US$
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
44 places, 1,210 data points, 1965–2011
Last refreshed

Food imports, cif (includes freight and insurance costs) in 1987 constant US dollars.