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Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Upper-middle income
South Africa: trade and investment
Exports is 31.4% (2025), 110th of 184 in the world and 19th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 29.5% (2025), 135th of 184 in the world and 24th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 60.9% (2025), 127th of 184 in the world and 21st of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: South Africa in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 31.4%2025 | 110/184 | 19/43 | 24.4% | 25.8% | 27.6% | +3.7 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 25.9% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 29.5%2025 | 135/184 | 24/43 | 21.8% | 24.6% | 23.2% | +0.5 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 23.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 60.9%2025 | 127/184 | 21/43 | 46.2% | 50.4% | 50.8% | +4.2 ppsince 2015 | 55.7% | 48.9% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -0.4%2025 | 80/185 | 13/42 | -0.1% | -1.3% | 2.0% | +3.9 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $116bn2025 | 37/206 | 1/48 | $30.0bn | $91.3bn | $85.8bn | +44%since 2015 | $487bn | $7.7tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 5.7%2024 | 91/170 | 7/39 | · | 6.2% | 5.6% | −1.0 ppsince 2014 | 6.0% | 23.2% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 8.2%2025 | 59/172 | 11/39 | 10.1% | 10.7% | 8.1% | −1.6 ppsince 2015 | 40.9% | 5.2% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 12.8%2025 | 102/172 | 27/39 | 8.5% | 10.0% | 11.8% | +2.1 ppsince 2015 | 14.6% | 9.0% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 4.7%2022 | 84/184 | 35/45 | 5.3% | 4.6% | 4.4% | +0.4 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | -0.5%2025 | 184/197 | 45/46 | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.9% | −0.9 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 1.1% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 0.2%2025 | 150/178 | 39/41 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 3.1% | 1.0% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 3.9m2020 | 45/196 | 2/42 | 6.0m | 11.3m | 3.9m | −66%since 2010 | 56.0m | 573m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $2.7bn2020 | 43/177 | 1/40 | $3.3bn | $10.3bn | $2.7bn | −74%since 2010 | $34.9bn | — | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
South Africa and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with South Africa. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | South Africa | Mozambique | Zimbabwe | Namibia | Botswana | Lesotho |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 31.4%2025 | 41.4%2025 | 18.1%2024 | 44.7%2025 | 32.0%2025 | 49.5%2025 |
| Imports | 29.5%2025 | 55.7%2025 | 23.4%2024 | 63.9%2025 | 37.5%2025 | 104.5%2025 |
| Trade openness | 60.9%2025 | 97.1%2025 | 41.5%2024 | 108.6%2025 | 69.5%2025 | 154.0%2025 |
| Current account | -0.4%2025 | -14.2%2025 | 1.2%2024 | -13.4%2024 | 2.9%2025 | 0.1%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $116bn2025 | $8.1bn2025 | $9.7bn2025 | $7.0bn2025 | $5.1bn2025 | $773m2025 |
| High-tech exports | 5.7%2024 | 3.6%2024 | 2.8%2024 | 0.1%2024 | 0.5%2023 | 0.1%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 8.2%2025 | 54.2%2025 | 2.9%2024 | 1.3%2024 | 0.7%2023 | 0.0%2024 |
| Food exports | 12.8%2025 | 12.4%2025 | 21.6%2024 | 28.0%2024 | 1.9%2023 | 23.3%2024 |
| Average tariff | 4.7%2022 | 4.2%2021 | 11.4%2021 | 3.6%2022 | 3.2%2022 | 3.4%2022 |