Exports (% of GDP) — all countries

Exports (% of GDP) — Southern Africa

Exports (% of GDP) in Southern Africa in 2025 — 31.97%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 6.43 pp.

2025 31.97% −0.24 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 34.37%2022
Period minimum 18.41%1970

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Exports (% of GDP) — Southern Africa, 1960–2025152025303519601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 25.54%1962: 25.43%1964: 23.79%1966: 21.96%1968: 21.93%1970: 18.41%1972: 21.55%1974: 24.24%1976: 24.13%1978: 28.63%1980: 33.06%1982: 24.43%1984: 23.55%1986: 28.69%1988: 27.35%1990: 22.96%1992: 20.27%1994: 20.85%1996: 23.23%1998: 23.76%2000: 25.78%2002: 29.8%2004: 24.06%2006: 27.37%2008: 33.38%2010: 26.91%2012: 28.21%2014: 30.72%2016: 29.77%2018: 28.67%2020: 28.17%2022: 34.37%2024: 32.21%2025: 31.97%
Change over the period: +6.43 pp Annual average: 0.1 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Africa

Southern Africa 31.97%
World 29.48%
Exports (% of GDP) — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 31.97 −0.24 pp
2024 32.21 −1.54 pp
2023 33.75 −0.62 pp
2022 34.37 +2.5 pp
2021 31.86 +3.69 pp
2020 28.17 +0.01 pp
2019 28.16 −0.51 pp
2018 28.67 +0.25 pp
2017 28.42 −1.35 pp
2016 29.77 +0.65 pp
2015 29.12 −1.6 pp
2014 30.72 +0.81 pp
2013 29.91 +1.7 pp
2012 28.21 −0.56 pp
2011 28.77 +1.86 pp
2010 26.91 +0.84 pp
2009 26.07 −7.3 pp
2008 33.38 +3.9 pp
2007 29.48 +2.11 pp
2006 27.37 +2.42 pp
2005 24.95 +0.89 pp
2004 24.06 −1.21 pp
2003 25.27 −4.53 pp
2002 29.8 +2.23 pp
2001 27.57 +1.78 pp
2000 25.78 +1.93 pp
1999 23.85 +0.09 pp
1998 23.76 +0.51 pp
1997 23.26 +0.03 pp
1996 23.23 +1.84 pp
1995 21.39 +0.54 pp
1994 20.85 −0.35 pp
1993 21.21 +0.93 pp
1992 20.27 −0.52 pp
1991 20.8 −2.16 pp
1990 22.96 −2.29 pp
1989 25.25 −2.1 pp
1988 27.35 −0.92 pp
1987 28.28 −0.41 pp
1986 28.69 −0.42 pp
1985 29.11 +5.56 pp
1984 23.55 +0.77 pp
1983 22.78 −1.65 pp
1982 24.43 −1.74 pp
1981 26.17 −6.89 pp
1980 33.06 +1.57 pp
1979 31.49 +2.86 pp
1978 28.63 +2.17 pp
1977 26.47 +2.34 pp
1976 24.13 +0.15 pp
1975 23.97 −0.27 pp
1974 24.24 +2.45 pp
1973 21.78 +0.24 pp
1972 21.55 +3.01 pp
1971 18.54 +0.13 pp
1970 18.41 −1.62 pp
1969 20.03 −1.9 pp
1968 21.93 +0.55 pp
1967 21.37 −0.59 pp
1966 21.96 −0.34 pp
1965 22.3 −1.49 pp
1964 23.79 −1.03 pp
1963 24.81 −0.61 pp
1962 25.43 +0.13 pp
1961 25.3 −0.24 pp
1960 25.54

About the indicator

Exports of goods and services as a percent of GDP — a measure of how far an economy is oriented toward external markets. In small open economies and transit hubs the indicator can exceed 100% of GDP: exports are counted at the full value of the goods while GDP is counted as value added, so re-exports and assembly production inflate the figure.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.