United Kingdom and South Africa
The United Kingdom and South Africa connect investment, services and cooperation to transform South Africa's energy system. Dialogue includes employment, health and security, alongside differences and shared positions in international forums.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07A bilateral follow-up forum
The thirteenth bilateral forum was held in Cape Town on 5 November 2024.
Trade and investment
The economic framework includes the trade agreement between the United Kingdom, the Southern African Customs Union countries and Mozambique.
Regional and multilateral agenda
The forum examined regional conflicts and United Nations reform, including African representation on the Security Council.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 22,844.02 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Goods: United Kingdom to South Africa | 1,842.66 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Goods: South Africa to United Kingdom | 21,001.36 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Services trade | 5,300 M GBP | 2025 · ONS |
| Export share: United Kingdom to South Africa | 0.33 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Export share: South Africa to United Kingdom | ||
| Investment stock: United Kingdom in South Africa | 26,000 M GBP | 2024 · ONS |
| Investment stock: South Africa in United Kingdom | 3,500 M GBP | 2024 · ONS |
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 / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: United Kingdom to South Africa
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: South Africa to United Kingdom
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Services trade
- 2025 · Department for Business and Trade / ONS · Services trade, calendar year 2025, according to the ONS table in the current profile. Figure rounded as in the source. The figure for four quarters through March 2026 is not used. It is not added to goods expressed in USD.
- Export share: United Kingdom to South Africa
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods share: GBR exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
- Investment stock: United Kingdom in South Africa
- 2024 · Department for Business and Trade / ONS · Direct investment position at the end of 2024 published by ONS, including ad hoc publication where the profile indicates. Not total portfolio investment, announcements or annual flow. Published negative values are retained: these are net positions, not annual spending.
- Investment stock: South Africa in United Kingdom
- 2024 · Department for Business and Trade / ONS · Direct investment position at the end of 2024 published by ONS, including ad hoc publication where the profile indicates. Not total portfolio investment, announcements or annual flow. Published negative values are retained: these are net positions, not annual spending.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 4 trillion USD2025 · World Bank | 427.18 billion USD2025 · World Bank |
| GDP per capita | 57,601.96 USD2025 · World Bank | 6,597.71 USD2025 · World Bank |
| GDP growth | 1.39 %2025 · World Bank | 1.11 %2025 · World Bank |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 3.88 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank | 3.21 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.1 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · ONS | 4.4 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · Stats SAurban |
| Unemployment | 4.75 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank | 32.39 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -5.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -5.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 102.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 78.6 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -2.43 %2025 · World Bank | -0.42 %2025 · World Bank |
| Population | 69,487,0002025 · World Bank | 64,747,3192025 · World Bank |
| Area | 243,610 km²2023 · World Bank | 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 USDUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)United Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)United Kingdom: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.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 statedUnited Kingdom: 2026-08 · Headline CPI; change relative to the same month of the previous year · ONS · Headline CPI, not CPIH or core inflation.South 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 institutionUnited Kingdom: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.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)United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when 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)United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when 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 GDPUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.South Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceUnited Kingdom: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.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.
United Kingdom to South Africa
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 451.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 195.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 195.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 124.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 93.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 18.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 4.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 0.1 M USD2025 · Source |
South Africa to United Kingdom
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and components | 2,123.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 819.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 62.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 41.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 40.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 9.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 0.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | United Kingdom to South Africa | South Africa to United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,496.6 | 1,986.4 | 10,510.2 |
| 2022 | 9,966.4 | 2,074.1 | 7,892.3 |
| 2023 | 11,218 | 2,106 | 9,112 |
| 2024 | 14,904.4 | 1,964.1 | 12,940.2 |
| 2025 | 22,844 | 1,842.7 | 21,001.4 |
Connections between people
Vocational training, health and employment during the energy transition connect institutions and people. Services volume does not reveal how many residents there are. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from United Kingdom living in South Africa | ||
| Residents from South Africa living in United Kingdom | ||
| Study and training: United Kingdom in South Africa | ||
| Study and training: South Africa in United Kingdom | ||
| Academic stays: United Kingdom in South Africa | ||
| Academic stays: South Africa in United Kingdom | ||
| Travel: United Kingdom to South Africa | ||
| Travel: South Africa to United Kingdom |
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.
A bilateral follow-up forum
The thirteenth bilateral forum was held in Cape Town on 5 November 2024. It followed up on the 2022 South African state visit and brought foreign ministers together to review the economy, security and international cooperation. [1]
Trade and investment
The economic framework includes the trade agreement between the United Kingdom, the Southern African Customs Union countries and Mozambique. The joint growth plan addresses business activity and employment; its objectives are distinct from transactions and investment positions published in statistics. [1]
Training and energy transition
The Just Energy Transition Partnership addresses electricity grids, technical capacities and social effects of energy change. Training and employment opportunities form part of that transformation, alongside health and agricultural collaboration. [1]
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for United Kingdom is 4,002.6 billion USD (2025), compared with 427.2 for South Africa (2025). The reference populations are 69.49 and 64.75 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of United Kingdom was 9.37 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]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Regional and multilateral agenda
The forum examined regional conflicts and United Nations reform, including African representation on the Security Council. Its statement was published in September 2025, but the documented meeting took place in November 2024: the two dates are not confused. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (United Kingdom and South Africa) totalled 22,844 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 1,842.7 million; those in the opposite direction, 21,001.4 million. The difference between the two flows was 19,158.7 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. [2]
The partner's share of exports
Sales from United Kingdom to the partner represented 0.33% 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. [2]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 12,496.6 million USD in 2021 and 22,844 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +82.8 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2025, at 22,844 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. [3]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, machinery and mechanical appliances stands out in shipments from United Kingdom to South Africa, at 451.7 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from South Africa to United Kingdom, at 2,123.8 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. [4]
Cross-border services
Published services trade for the pair was 5300 million GBP (2025). Services trade, calendar year 2025, according to the ONS table in the current profile. Figure rounded as in the source. The figure for four quarters through March 2026 is not used. It is not added to goods expressed in USD. [5]
Direct investment position
The United Kingdom's direct investment position in South Africa was GBP 26,000 million (2024). Direct investment position at the end of 2024 published by ONS, including ad hoc publications where the profile indicates. Not total portfolio investment, announcements or annual flow. Published negative values are retained: these are net positions, not annual spending. [5]
Direct investment position
South Africa's direct investment position in the United Kingdom was 3500 million GBP (2024). Direct investment position at the end of 2024 published by ONS, including ad hoc publications where the profile indicates. Not total portfolio investment, announcements or annual flow. Published negative values are retained: these are net positions, not annual spending. [5]
Milestones and consequences
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 relations: GBR-ZAF
Government of the United Kingdom · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 826; partners 0,484,76,32,152,170,554,360,704,410,682,784,634,818,376,710
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 826; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Trade and Investment Factsheet — GBR-ZAF
Department for Business and Trade / ONS · 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; 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 / GBR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 826; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total.