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Strategic Lens

Canada and South Africa

First country

Second country

In 2025, Canada sold USD 366 million of goods to South Africa and bought USD 2.59 billion from it. Both are members of the G20 and the Commonwealth of Nations. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 54 percent in 2023, and 54 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 2 thousand people born in Canada lived in South Africa, and 53 thousand people born in South Africa lived in Canada.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in goods grew 184 percent, from USD 1.04 billion in 2019 to USD 2.96 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products grew 57 percent, from USD 249 million in 2019 to USD 391 million in 2025.
  • BothTrade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel runs both ways in similar amounts: Canada sold USD 151 million and South Africa sold USD 123 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 2.59 billion of goods, against USD 366 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 344 million of agricultural and food products, against USD 47.4 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Canada sold USD 15.3 million of pharmaceutical products, against USD 2.0 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026); UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024 (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 2.96 billion
2025, as reported by Canada
Canada to South Africa
USD 366 million
2025, as reported by Canada
South Africa to Canada
USD 2.59 billion
2025, as reported by Canada

What connects Canada and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Canada sold USD 366 million of goods to South Africa and bought USD 2.59 billion from it.

Resources

Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Canada sold USD 47.4 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 344 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Canada sold USD 151 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to South Africa and bought USD 123 million from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Canada sold USD 40.1 million of electrical and electronic equipment to South Africa and bought USD 42.0 million from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, Canada sold USD 15.3 million of pharmaceutical products to South Africa and bought USD 2.0 million from it.

Security

Nuclear and spaceIn 2025, Canada sold USD 2.3 million of nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft to South Africa and bought USD 36.2 million from it.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and the Commonwealth of Nations. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 54 percent in 2023, and 54 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 2 thousand people born in Canada lived in South Africa, and 53 thousand people born in South Africa lived in Canada.

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