Australia and South Africa
Australia and South Africa connect mining, investment and institutional networks. Bilateral relations also lie within Indian Ocean forums and Australian cooperation with Africa.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Representation and international arenas
Both maintain high commissioners in Pretoria and Canberra.
Mining and investment
Australia’s regional profile identifies South Africa as its largest investment partner in Africa.
Regional economic cooperation
Australia’s June 2025 memorandum with the AfCFTA secretariat forms part of a broader African agenda.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 2,616.78 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / AUS |
| Goods: Australia to South Africa | 1,193.55 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / AUS |
| Goods: South Africa to Australia | 1,423.23 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / AUS |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Australia to South Africa | 0.36 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / AUS |
| Export share: South Africa to Australia | ||
| Investment stock: Australia in South Africa | ||
| Investment stock: South Africa in Australia |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / AUS · Goods; full year; reporter AUS. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Goods: Australia to South Africa
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / AUS · Goods; full year; reporter AUS. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Goods: South Africa to Australia
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / AUS · Goods; full year; reporter AUS. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Export share: Australia to South Africa
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / AUS · Goods share: AUS exports to the partner / exports by the same reporter to the world, same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Australia | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 1.8 trillion USD2025 · WB | 427.18 billion USD2025 · World Bank |
| GDP per capita | 65,129.72 USD2025 · WB | 6,597.71 USD2025 · World Bank |
| GDP growth | 1.35 %2025 · WB | 1.11 %2025 · World Bank |
| Policy interest rate | 4.6 %2026-09-29 · RBA | |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.87 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 3.21 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 4 %Headline CPI · 2026-08 · year-on-year · ABS | 4.4 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · Stats SAurban |
| Unemployment | 4.09 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 32.39 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -5.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 51 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 78.6 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -2.68 %2025 · WB | -0.42 %2025 · World Bank |
| Population | 27,614,4112025 · WB | 64,747,3192025 · World Bank |
| Area | 7,741,220 km²2023 · WB | 1,219,090 km²2023 · World Bank |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDAustralia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personAustralia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Australia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Australia: 2026-09-29 · Cash rate target · RBA · Official central-bank decision; not a commercial lending rate or a bill yield.
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Australia: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.South Africa: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedAustralia: 2026-08 · National headline CPI, change from the same month of the previous year · ABS · Published: 2026-09-30 · Official monthly data. Not mixed with the annual average. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07South Africa: 2026-08 · Headline CPI; change from the same month of the previous year · Stats SA · Urban headline CPI, not a geographically comprehensive national index or core inflation.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionAustralia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.South Africa: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Australia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.South Africa: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Australia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.South Africa: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPAustralia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleAustralia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceAustralia: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.South Africa: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Australia to South Africa
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 88.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 39.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 39.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 30.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 20.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 0.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 0.3 M USD2025 · Source |
South Africa to Australia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and components | 492.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 102.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 56.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 26.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 3.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 3.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 0.1 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | Australia to South Africa | South Africa to Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,750.9 | 809.5 | 941.3 |
| 2022 | 2,275 | 1,214.5 | 1,060.6 |
| 2023 | 2,218 | 1,100.6 | 1,117.4 |
| 2024 | 2,652.4 | 1,192.6 | 1,459.8 |
| 2025 | 2,616.8 | 1,193.5 | 1,423.2 |
Connections between people
Academic and professional networks complement business presence. Regional African programmes are not counted as South African bilateral mobility. [2]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Australia living in South Africa | ||
| Residents from South Africa living in Australia | ||
| Study and training: Australia in South Africa | ||
| Study and training: South Africa in Australia | ||
| Academic stays: Australia in South Africa | ||
| Academic stays: South Africa in Australia | ||
| Travel: Australia to South Africa | ||
| Travel: South Africa to Australia |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
Representation and international arenas
Both maintain high commissioners in Pretoria and Canberra. South Africa participates in the G20, Commonwealth and Indian Ocean Rim Association, offering contact arenas alongside bilateral diplomacy. [1]
Mining and investment
Australia’s regional profile identifies South Africa as its largest investment partner in Africa. Mining business contacts and the Mining Indaba forum are work channels; an investment figure for the whole continent is not automatically attributed to South Africa. [2]
Training and contacts between societies
Educational institutions participate in Australian training programmes for Africa. Their regional scope must be distinguished from South African students or residents specifically registered in Australia. [2]
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Australia is 1,798.5 billion USD (2025), compared with 427.2 for South Africa (2025). The reference populations are 27.61 and 64.75 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Australia was 4.21 times that of South Africa in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [6] [7] [8] [9]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Regional economic cooperation
Australia’s June 2025 memorandum with the AfCFTA secretariat forms part of a broader African agenda. This is an agreement with a continental institution, not an Australia–South Africa bilateral free trade treaty. [2]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Australia and South Africa) totalled 2,616.8 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 1,193.5 million; those in the opposite direction, 1,423.2 million. The difference between the two flows was 229.7 million, in favour of South Africa. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [3]
The partner's share of exports
Sales from Australia to the partner represented 0.36% of its worldwide goods exports in 2025. The share compares the same reporter, year and coverage. It measures export concentration, not the percentage of GDP dependent on this relationship. A partner may be important in a specific sector even if its share of total goods trade is small. [3]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 1,750.9 million USD in 2021 and 2,616.8 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +49.5 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2024, at 2,652.4 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [4]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, machinery and mechanical appliances stands out in shipments from Australia to South Africa, at 88.6 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from South Africa to Australia, at 492.9 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [5]
Milestones and consequences
- 2025-06-19
Memorandum with AfCFTA
Australia signed a cooperation instrument with the continental secretariat in Accra. [2]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral document AUS-ZAF
Australia DFAT · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Bilateral relations: AUS-ZAF
Australia DFAT · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 36; partners 0,484,702,458,764,608,818,682,784,710,598,242
UN Comtrade / AUS · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade / AUS · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 36; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total
UN Comtrade / AUS · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / AUS
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 36; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total.