Agricultural output, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural output, annual growth rate was -3.96 % change on previous year in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agricultural output, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1962–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2024, agricultural output, annual growth rate in South Africa stood at -3.96 % change on previous year.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 610.3% on the previous year and down 173.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural output, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 17.44 % change on previous year in 1967 and was at its lowest, -15.48 % change on previous year, in 1992.
That places South Africa 129th out of 159 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agricultural output, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 0.4564 % change on previous year | — |
| 1963 | 4.88 % change on previous year | +969.0% |
| 1964 | -3.69 % change on previous year | -175.6% |
| 1965 | 6.1 % change on previous year | -265.5% |
| 1966 | 3.84 % change on previous year | -37.0% |
| 1967 | 17.44 % change on previous year | +353.9% |
| 1968 | -9.08 % change on previous year | -152.1% |
| 1969 | 4.82 % change on previous year | -153.1% |
| 1970 | -2.04 % change on previous year | -142.3% |
| 1971 | 8.46 % change on previous year | -514.8% |
| 1972 | 5.45 % change on previous year | -35.6% |
| 1973 | -13.52 % change on previous year | -347.9% |
| 1974 | 17.25 % change on previous year | -227.6% |
| 1975 | -2.1 % change on previous year | -112.2% |
| 1976 | -0.1981 % change on previous year | -90.6% |
| 1977 | 4.15 % change on previous year | -2194.4% |
| 1978 | 5.07 % change on previous year | +22.3% |
| 1979 | -1.34 % change on previous year | -126.4% |
| 1980 | 4.37 % change on previous year | -426.3% |
| 1981 | 8.91 % change on previous year | +103.9% |
| 1982 | -7.23 % change on previous year | -181.1% |
| 1983 | -10.73 % change on previous year | +48.4% |
| 1984 | 6.93 % change on previous year | -164.5% |
| 1985 | 4.67 % change on previous year | -32.6% |
| 1986 | -1.23 % change on previous year | -126.4% |
| 1987 | 5.3 % change on previous year | -530.4% |
| 1988 | 2.01 % change on previous year | -62.0% |
| 1989 | 4.87 % change on previous year | +142.3% |
| 1990 | -1.75 % change on previous year | -136.0% |
| 1991 | 3.68 % change on previous year | -309.6% |
| 1992 | -15.48 % change on previous year | -521.1% |
| 1993 | 10.95 % change on previous year | -170.7% |
| 1994 | 3.45 % change on previous year | -68.5% |
| 1995 | -11.18 % change on previous year | -424.2% |
| 1996 | 15.77 % change on previous year | -241.1% |
| 1997 | 6.11 % change on previous year | -61.2% |
| 1998 | -8.98 % change on previous year | -246.9% |
| 1999 | 7.89 % change on previous year | -187.8% |
| 2000 | 4.56 % change on previous year | -42.1% |
| 2001 | -4.17 % change on previous year | -191.4% |
| 2002 | 5.59 % change on previous year | -234.1% |
| 2003 | -0.0425 % change on previous year | -100.8% |
| 2004 | 2.26 % change on previous year | -5405.5% |
| 2005 | 5.47 % change on previous year | +142.5% |
| 2006 | -4.12 % change on previous year | -175.2% |
| 2007 | 2.66 % change on previous year | -164.7% |
| 2008 | 12.7 % change on previous year | +376.5% |
| 2009 | -1.45 % change on previous year | -111.4% |
| 2010 | 2.72 % change on previous year | -288.1% |
| 2011 | -0.5061 % change on previous year | -118.6% |
| 2012 | 3.41 % change on previous year | -773.2% |
| 2013 | 6.01 % change on previous year | +76.4% |
| 2014 | 5.4 % change on previous year | -10.2% |
| 2015 | -1.52 % change on previous year | -128.2% |
| 2016 | -5.3 % change on previous year | +247.9% |
| 2017 | 11.5 % change on previous year | -316.9% |
| 2018 | -1.09 % change on previous year | -109.5% |
| 2019 | -0.0662 % change on previous year | -93.9% |
| 2020 | 6.73 % change on previous year | -10265.4% |
| 2021 | 2.15 % change on previous year | -68.0% |
| 2022 | 1.53 % change on previous year | -29.0% |
| 2023 | -0.5578 % change on previous year | -136.5% |
| 2024 | -3.96 % change on previous year | +610.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -3.96 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4585 % change on previous year. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -3.96 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.44 % change on previous year. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agricultural output, annual growth rate in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +10265.4% | -0.0662 % change on previous year | 6.73 % change on previous year |
| 2004 | +5405.5% | -0.0425 % change on previous year | 2.26 % change on previous year |
| 1977 | +2194.4% | -0.1981 % change on previous year | 4.15 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.1 % change on previous year | -9.08 % change on previous year | 17.44 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 1970s | 2.12 % change on previous year | -13.52 % change on previous year | 17.25 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.79 % change on previous year | -10.73 % change on previous year | 8.91 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.05 % change on previous year | -15.48 % change on previous year | 15.77 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.35 % change on previous year | -4.17 % change on previous year | 12.7 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.05 % change on previous year | -5.3 % change on previous year | 11.5 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.18 % change on previous year | -3.96 % change on previous year | 6.73 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 126 Ukraine -3.46 % change on previous year compare
- 127 Bulgaria -3.63 % change on previous year compare
- 128 Croatia -3.83 % change on previous year compare
- 130 Spain -4.04 % change on previous year compare
- 131 Honduras -4.48 % change on previous year compare
- 132 Netherlands -4.62 % change on previous year compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural output, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Agricultural output, annual growth rate in South Africa was -3.96 % change on previous year in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest agricultural output, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.44 % change on previous year in 1967.
- What is the lowest agricultural output, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -15.48 % change on previous year in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural output, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 129th out of 159 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agricultural output, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 173.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Agricultural output, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Agricultural output. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Agricultural output Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Agricultural output. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.