# Economy, employment, trade and industry data resources

## Economy and employment

**Statistics South Africa** (Stats SA) publishes data and reports on [economic growth](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=735\&id=1) and [inflation](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=735\&id=3), including for specific sectors such as [agriculture](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=735\&id=4) as noted below.

Stats SA also publishes the [**Quarterly Labour Force Survey**](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1866\&PPN=P0211\&SCH=72944)**.**

[**South African Reserve Bank (SARB)**](https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/what-we-do/statistics) publishes statistics on various indicators, such as:

* [Economic and financial statistics ](https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/what-we-do/statistics/releases/economic-and-financial-data-for-south-africa)on various South African sectors
* [Selected monthly data](https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/what-we-do/statistics/releases/selected-statistics) across a range of themes 
* [Balance of payments](https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/publications/quarterly-bulletin1/current-account-release)
* [Gross external debt](https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/publications/external-debt)

At a subnational level, the provinces and cities publish their own data and reports, such as with eThekwini Municipality via the [**Durban EDGE portal**](https://edge.durban/dataset)**.**

The CSIR has developed a [**mesozone data set**](#undefined) which divides South Africa into a complete grid of 25,000 spatial units of approximately the same size (\~50km2). Mesozone data includes population, main economic sectors and employment.

## National Trade and Industry Data Sources

[**Statistics South Africa**](http://www.statssa.gov.za/) publishes regular statistical reports using trade and industry data from various sources, such as:

* Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) [Mining production and sales](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854\&PPN=P2041\&SCH=72807)
* From its own surveys, for example: [Manufacturing production and sales](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854\&PPN=P3041.2\&SCH=72806)

In some cases you can download [time series data](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1847) used in these publications in Excel and ASCII format. Data stories related to [Imports and Exports](http://www.statssa.gov.za/?cat=37) are available here.

**South African Revenue Service (SARS)** has [Trade Statistics Dashboard](https://tools.sars.gov.za/tradestatsportal/Default.aspx) where you can access data on trade by countries and by commodity, monthly imports and exports, and trade balances.

**The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and related entities publish data on a variety of topics**

* DTIC Industrial Development provides [research reports](http://www.thedtic.gov.za/sectors-and-services-2/industrial-development/research-reports/) include statistical information on various industries.
* [Department of Small Business Development](http://www.dsbd.gov.za/?page_id=1662) (DSBD) has annual performance plan, procurement plans.
* [Small Enterprise Finance Agency](http://www.sefa.org.za/) (SEFA) and SEDA have annual reports of supportive provision to SMMEs.
* [SITA e-Services](https://www.eservices.gov.za/tonkana/services/home.jsf), it enables access to government services and datasets available online for all government organisations. You just have to register to access the dataset on this site. 

## International Trade and Industry Data Sources

[**Observatory on Economic Complexity (OEC)**](https://oec.world/en/profile/country/zaf) provides a detailed national and subnational aggregation and analysis of import and export data for South Africa. Specific tools include [Trend Explorer](https://oec.world/en/trend-explorer), [Tree Map](https://oec.world/en/visualize/tree_map/hs92/export/pry/all/show/2019/), Stacked, Network, Map, and Scatter visualizations of annual and monthly import and export records that can be downloaded as CSV and image formats.

The [**Southern African Customs Union (SACU)**](https://www.sacu.int/) promotes economic development through regional coordination of trade.

* [Trade Agreements](https://www.sacu.int/list.php?type=Agreements) provides customs agreements and status of trade agreements documents.
* [Research Reports](https://www.sacu.int/list.php?type=Annual%20Reports) of annual financial statements and economic performance of the SACU Member States. 
* [Statistical Database](https://stats.sacu.int/) provides dashboards that summarizes merchandise trade, economic indicators i.e. customer index and national accounts

**Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)** [**Comstat Hub** ](https://comstat.comesa.int/apps/gallery)provides dashboards to view various trade and industry-related data for the region

[**African Development Bank Group (ADBG)**](https://www.afdb.org/en) under it's Knowledge activities hosts:

* [Africa Information Highway](https://www.afdb.org/en/knowledge/statistics/africa-information-highway-aih) is a network of live data platforms for all African countries and 16 regional organizations
* [Data Portal](https://projectsportal.afdb.org/dataportal/?lang=en) provides access to information on all AFDB projects. Includes project title and ID, country, sector, financial information, results and links to publicly disclosed documents
* [MapAfrica](https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/mapafrica) maps the geographic locations of AfDB’s investments in Africa
* [Statistics](https://www.afdb.org/en/knowledge/statistics) page including events and publications

[**International Trade Centre (ITC)**](https://www.intracen.org/) provides various market information and analysis tools, such as:

* [Trade Map](https://www.trademap.org/Index.aspx) indicators on export performance, international demand, alternative markets and competitive markets, as well as a directory of importing and exporting companies in the form of tables, graphs and maps. 
* [Market Access Map](https://www.intracen.org/itc/market-info-tools/market-analysis-tools/) analytical portal that allows users to access, compare, analyse and download customs tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, trade remedies and non-tariff measures applicable to a specific good in any market in the world.
* [Investment Map](https://www.investmentmap.org/home) helps Investment Promotion Agencies identify priority sectors and competing countries for foreign investments, as well as existing and potential foreign investors.
* [Trade Competitiveness](https://tradecompetitivenessmap.intracen.org/) provides the Trade Performance Index by Sector
* [Export Potential Map](https://exportpotential.intracen.org/en/#/home) is a free tool that turns economic analysis into practical trade information.
* [Procurement Map](https://procurementmap.intracen.org/) provides detailed information for public tenders and contract awards.
* [Sustainability Map](https://standardsmap.org/) has information about voluntary sustainability standards, codes of conduct, audit protocols, reporting frameworks and company programs on sustainability.

[**United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)** ](https://unctad.org/)is the part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues

* [**UNCTAD Stats**](https://unctadstat.unctad.org/CountryProfile/GeneralProfile/en-GB/710/index.html) provides statistics, trends, and reports on international trade
* [**Investment Policy Hub**](https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/countries/195/south-africa) lists South Africa's Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), Treaties with Investment Provisions (TIPs), Investment Related Instruments (IRIs).

**UN** [**Comtrade**](https://comtrade.un.org/) is a repository of official international trade statistics and relevant analytical tables. All data is accessible through [API](https://comtrade.un.org/data/dev/portal/).

**Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)** provides data on industry and trade via [OECD country page on South Africa](https://data.oecd.org/south-africa.htm) which aggregates various economic and social indicators. More granular data is available on [OECD.Stat](https://stats.oecd.org/).

[**World Bank Open Data**](https://data.worldbank.org/) allows for download of raw data on multiple economic indicators, as well as World Bank projects. Or you can use the [DataBank](https://databank.worldbank.org/home.aspx) analysis and visualisation tool.

[**International Monetary Fund (IMF)**](https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/ZAF) provides time series data for GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, payments balances, exports, imports, external debt, capital flows, commodity prices. Using these tools:

* [World Economic Outlook](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/SPROLLs/world-economic-outlook-databases#sort=%40imfdate%20descending) reports
* [Global Financial Stability Report](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gfsr) 
* [Fiscal Monitor Latest Update](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/FM) reports
* [IMF Data Mapper](https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDP_RPCH@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD)
* [IMF Finances](https://www.imf.org/data/imf-finances)
* [Special Drawing Right (SDRs) per Currency Unit](https://www.imf.org/external/np/fin/data/rms_five.aspx)

**World Trade Organization (WTO)**[ data](https://data.wto.org/) platform provides downloadable data on international trade and foreign affiliates statistics available in Excel, CSV formats that is access via links and APIs.

**United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)** hosts the [Africa UN Knowledge Hub](https://knowledge.uneca.org/covid19/countrydata) portal that  provides access to key UN data resources on COVID-19 including specialized datasets on how COVID-19 has impacted key areas of development on the continent.