South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa: Merchandise imports

South Africa
26.58 billion constant US$
in 2009
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa
144.25 billion constant US$
in 2010
South Africa rank
3rd
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa rank
4th

Merchandise imports over time

  • South Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa
050.0B100.0B150.0B196519872010

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa currently reports 144.25 billion constant US$ against 26.58 billion constant US$ in South Africa, a difference of 117.67 billion constant US$.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa's figure about 5.4 times South Africa's.

Across all 25 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 3rd and Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ranks 4th of 45 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 9.08 billion constant US$ 46.30 billion constant US$ 37.21 billion constant US$ Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa
1990s 23.31 billion constant US$ 48.21 billion constant US$ 24.90 billion constant US$ Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa
2000s 23.49 billion constant US$ 90.41 billion constant US$ 66.92 billion constant US$ Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher merchandise imports, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, at 144.25 billion constant US$ against 26.58 billion constant US$ in South Africa as of 2010.
What is the difference in merchandise imports between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
117.67 billion constant US$, with Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
25 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2009.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa rank globally for merchandise imports?
South Africa ranks 3rd and Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ranks 4th of 45 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank country economists, published as Merchandise imports (constant US$). 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 excluding South Africa: Merchandise imports. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://trade.statizoid.com/compare/merchandise-imports-constant-us/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise imports (constant US$)
Unit
constant US$
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
51 places, 1,355 data points, 1965–2011
Last refreshed

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