Nigeria vs South Africa: Merchandise exports

Nigeria
17.16 billion constant US$
in 2007
South Africa
81.93 billion constant US$
in 2009
Nigeria rank
3rd
South Africa rank
1st

Merchandise exports over time

  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
020.0B40.0B60.0B80.0B100.0B196519872009

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 81.93 billion constant US$ against 17.16 billion constant US$ in Nigeria, a difference of 64.78 billion constant US$.

That makes South Africa's figure about 4.8 times Nigeria's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 43 shared years of data; in 1965 it was South Africa ahead.

Nigeria ranks 3rd and South Africa ranks 1st of 48 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Nigeria South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 2.95 billion constant US$ 18.17 billion constant US$ 15.22 billion constant US$ South Africa
1970s 11.99 billion constant US$ 13.96 billion constant US$ 1.97 billion constant US$ South Africa
1980s 8.11 billion constant US$ 13.40 billion constant US$ 5.28 billion constant US$ South Africa
1990s 11.75 billion constant US$ 39.92 billion constant US$ 28.17 billion constant US$ South Africa
2000s 15.83 billion constant US$ 70.93 billion constant US$ 55.11 billion constant US$ South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher merchandise exports, Nigeria or South Africa?
South Africa, at 81.93 billion constant US$ against 17.16 billion constant US$ in Nigeria as of 2009.
What is the difference in merchandise exports between Nigeria and South Africa?
64.78 billion constant US$, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and South Africa?
43 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2007.
How do Nigeria and South Africa rank globally for merchandise exports?
Nigeria ranks 3rd and South Africa ranks 1st of 48 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank country economists, published as Merchandise exports (constant US$). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nigeria vs South Africa: Merchandise exports. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://trade.statizoid.com/compare/merchandise-exports-constant-us/nigeria/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise exports (constant US$)
Unit
constant US$
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
54 places, 1,433 data points, 1965–2011
Last refreshed

Merchandise exports (constant 1987 US$) show the f.o.b. value of goods provided to the rest of the world valued in U.S. dollars. They are classified using the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). Data are in constant U.S. dollars.