South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat
South Africa
3.16 million animals
in 2024
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2.85 million animals
in 2024
South Africa rank
22nd
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
24th
Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat over time
- South Africa
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 3.16 million animals against 2.85 million animals in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 311,620 animals.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 64 shared years of data; in 1961 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
South Africa ranks 22nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 24th of 198 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 3 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.27 million animals | 4.02 million animals | 1.74 million animals | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1970s | 2.58 million animals | 4.17 million animals | 1.59 million animals | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1980s | 2.74 million animals | 3.93 million animals | 1.19 million animals | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1990s | 2.55 million animals | 3.11 million animals | 563,542 animals | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2000s | 2.74 million animals | 2.44 million animals | 302,352 animals | South Africa |
| 2010s | 3.23 million animals | 2.73 million animals | 498,716 animals | South Africa |
| 2020s | 3.21 million animals | 2.80 million animals | 406,966 animals | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat, South Africa or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- South Africa, at 3.16 million animals against 2.85 million animals in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2024.
- What is the difference in yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat between South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 311,620 animals, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 64 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat?
- South Africa ranks 22nd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 24th of 198 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.