Merchandise imports, WB (current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports, WB (current US$) was 115.00 billion current US$ in 2009. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports, WB in South Africa, 1965–2009
Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports, wb in South Africa is 115.00 billion current US$, measured in 2009. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 387.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports, wb in South Africa peaked at 115.00 billion current US$ in 2009 and was at its lowest, 4.04 billion current US$, in 1965.
South Africa ranks 1st of 51 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports, WB (current US$) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 4.04 billion current US$ | — |
| 1966 | 4.60 billion current US$ | +13.7% |
| 1967 | 4.15 billion current US$ | -9.8% |
| 1968 | 5.68 billion current US$ | +37.1% |
| 1969 | 9.21 billion current US$ | +62.0% |
| 1970 | 10.02 billion current US$ | +8.8% |
| 1971 | 9.22 billion current US$ | -8.0% |
| 1972 | 8.77 billion current US$ | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 10.27 billion current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1974 | 12.82 billion current US$ | +24.9% |
| 1975 | 20.00 billion current US$ | +56.0% |
| 1976 | 23.00 billion current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1977 | 18.54 billion current US$ | -19.4% |
| 1978 | 15.87 billion current US$ | -14.4% |
| 1979 | 16.10 billion current US$ | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 11.68 billion current US$ | -27.5% |
| 1981 | 12.81 billion current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 15.57 billion current US$ | +21.5% |
| 1983 | 18.82 billion current US$ | +20.8% |
| 1984 | 18.44 billion current US$ | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 18.71 billion current US$ | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 18.69 billion current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 20.13 billion current US$ | +7.7% |
| 1988 | 20.87 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 24.21 billion current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1990 | 29.96 billion current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1991 | 30.07 billion current US$ | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 31.40 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 44.06 billion current US$ | +40.3% |
| 1994 | 40.55 billion current US$ | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 39.70 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 33.49 billion current US$ | -15.6% |
| 1997 | 31.25 billion current US$ | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 26.05 billion current US$ | -16.6% |
| 1999 | 23.57 billion current US$ | -9.5% |
| 2000 | 20.75 billion current US$ | -12.0% |
| 2001 | 16.73 billion current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2002 | 13.66 billion current US$ | -18.3% |
| 2003 | 19.03 billion current US$ | +39.3% |
| 2004 | 22.29 billion current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2005 | 81.70 billion current US$ | +266.5% |
| 2006 | 98.50 billion current US$ | +20.6% |
| 2007 | 106.00 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 2008 | 110.90 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 115.00 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 115.00 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.20 billion current US$, 22.1× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 115.00 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.89 billion current US$, 39.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports, WB (current US$) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +266.5% | 22.29 billion current US$ | 81.70 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.53 billion current US$ | 4.04 billion current US$ | 9.21 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 14.46 billion current US$ | 8.77 billion current US$ | 23.00 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.99 billion current US$ | 11.68 billion current US$ | 24.21 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.01 billion current US$ | 23.57 billion current US$ | 44.06 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.46 billion current US$ | 13.66 billion current US$ | 115.00 billion current US$ | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More trade data for South Africa
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 109.35 (2025)
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 100.81 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 99.79 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 95.89 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 98.98 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 77.42 (2025)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, Percent of GDP 1.03 (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 64.23 units per person (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 0.0102 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Exports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), gaps 1.75 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports, wb in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports, wb in South Africa was 115.00 billion current US$ in 2009, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest merchandise imports, wb recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 115.00 billion current US$ in 2009.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports, wb recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.04 billion current US$ in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports, wb?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 51 countries with data for 2009.
- Is merchandise imports, wb rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 387.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Merchandise imports, WB (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total merchandise imports, cif (includes freight and insurance costs) in current US dollars.