Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) was 28.16 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
28.16
Change on year
down 0.3%
Rank
9th
of 19 groups
All-time high
28.63
in 2024
All-time low
21.34
in 2000
Years of data
28
2000–2027

Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), 2000–2027

01020302000201320272000: 21.32001: 23.42002: 22.62003: 22.62004: 22.72005: 23.72006: 23.82007: 25.62008: 27.72009: 252010: 25.22011: 26.92012: 262013: 252014: 24.62015: 23.92016: 22.62017: 22.72018: 23.72019: 23.92020: 21.52021: 22.52022: 25.42023: 26.42024: 28.62025: 28.42026: 28.32027: 28.2

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

The most recent figure for imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is 28.16, measured in 2027.

That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 24.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) peaked at 28.63 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21.34, in 2000.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), year by year

Annual values for Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), 2000 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2000 21.34
2001 23.35 +9.4%
2002 22.59 -3.3%
2003 22.65 +0.3%
2004 22.67 +0.1%
2005 23.75 +4.7%
2006 23.79 +0.2%
2007 25.65 +7.8%
2008 27.68 +7.9%
2009 25 -9.7%
2010 25.19 +0.8%
2011 26.94 +7.0%
2012 26 -3.5%
2013 25.01 -3.8%
2014 24.6 -1.7%
2015 23.94 -2.7%
2016 22.56 -5.7%
2017 22.71 +0.6%
2018 23.71 +4.4%
2019 23.88 +0.7%
2020 21.54 -9.8%
2021 22.55 +4.7%
2022 25.36 +12.5%
2023 26.4 +4.1%
2024 28.63 +8.5%
2025 28.44 -0.7%
2026 28.26 -0.6%
2027 28.16 -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 23.85 21.34 27.68 10
2010s 24.45 22.56 26.94 10
2020s 26.17 21.54 28.63 8

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

  1. 6 Namibia 60.53 compare
  2. 7 Gambia 60.46 compare
  3. 8 Cape Verde 57.32 compare
  4. 9 Eswatini 56.72 compare
  5. 10 Mauritius 54.19 compare
  6. 11 Senegal 42.58 compare
  7. 12 Guinea 42.37 compare

See the full ranking of 64 places →

More trade data for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) →

Frequently asked questions

What is imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)?
Imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was 28.16 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)?
The highest recorded value was 28.63 in 2024.
What is the lowest imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)?
The lowest recorded value was 21.34 in 2000.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) rank for imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments)?
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) ranks 9th out of 19 groups with data for 2027.
Is imports of goods and services, percent of gdp (balance of payments) rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 19 September 2026, from https://trade.statizoid.com/stat/imports-of-goods-and-services-percent-of-gdp-balance-of-payments-and-international/sub-saharan-africa-ssa/

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About this data

Indicator
Imports of goods and services, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6))
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
64 places, 1,763 data points, 2000–2027
Last refreshed

Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.