South Africa: Trade balance, percent of GDP
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
| South Africa |
Trade balance as percent of GDP |
|---|---|
| Latest value | 2.02 |
| Year | 2022 |
| Measure | percent |
| Data availability | 1960 - 2022 |
| Average | 2.07 |
| Min - Max | -3.54 - 8.81 |
| Source | The World Bank |
The latest value from 2022 is 2.02 percent, a decline from 6.14 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is -4.42 percent, based on data from 149 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 1960 to 2022 is 2.07 percent. The minimum value, -3.54 percent, was reached in 1971 while the maximum of 8.81 percent was recorded in 1987.
See the global rankings for that indicator or
use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
Recent data
Historical series
The trade balance for South Africa and other countries is calculated as the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services, as percent of GDP. A positive number means trade surplus and a negative number means trade deficit.
Definition: External balance on goods and services (formerly resource balance) equals exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services (previously nonfactor services).
Selected articles from our guide:
What factors determine the exchange rates
International lending and sovereign debt
All articles
| Related indicators | Latest | Reference | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terms of trade | 128.32 | 2021 | percent |
| Trade openness | 65.72 | 2023 | percent |
| Financial openness | -1.242 | 2021 | index points |
| Exports, percent of GDP | 33.02 | 2023 | percent |
| Exports, billion dollars | 124.76 | 2023 | billion U.S. dollars |
| Growth of exports | 3.53 | 2023 | percent |
| Imports, percent of GDP | 32.70 | 2023 | percent |
| Imports, billion dollars | 123.53 | 2023 | billion U.S. dollars |
| Foreign Direct Investment, percent of GDP | 2.27 | 2022 | percent |
| Foreign Direct Investment, billion dollars | 9.19 | 2022 | billion U.S. dollars |
| Portfolio investment inflows, equities | -4,382.76 | 2023 | million dollars (current) |
| Current account, percent of GDP | -1.60 | 2023 | percent |
| Current account, in dollars | -6.16 | 2023 | billion U.S. dollars |
| Trade balance, percent of GDP | 2.02 | 2022 | percent |
| Trade balance, in dollars | 1.19 | 2023 | billion U.S. dollars |
| Reserves | 62.49 | 2023 | billion U.S. dollars |
| Remittances, percent of GDP | 0.22 | 2023 | percent |
| Remittances | 844.11 | 2023 | million U.S. dollars |
| Net errors and omissions | 1,263.43 | 2023 | million USD |
| External debt | 43.38 | 2022 | percent |
| Short-term external debt | 24.95 | 2022 | percent |
| Short-term debt to reserves | 70.93 | 2022 | percent |
| Foreign exchange reserves | 1,093.26 | 9/2024 | billion |