Barley yields in South Africa
South Africa: Barley yields was 3.71 tonnes per hectare in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.71 tonnes per hectare
Change on year
up 6.0%
World rank
38th
of 105 countries
All-time high
4.15 tonnes per hectare
in 2020
All-time low
0.3448 tonnes per hectare
in 1969
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Barley yields in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025); Broadberry et al. (2015); Brassley (2000) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes per hectare.
Analysis
In 2024, barley yields in South Africa stood at 3.71 tonnes per hectare.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, barley yields in South Africa peaked at 4.15 tonnes per hectare in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.3448 tonnes per hectare, in 1969.
That places South Africa 38th out of 105 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Barley yields in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.6207 tonnes per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 0.6935 tonnes per hectare | +11.7% |
| 1963 | 0.5286 tonnes per hectare | -23.8% |
| 1964 | 0.7966 tonnes per hectare | +50.7% |
| 1965 | 0.5 tonnes per hectare | -37.2% |
| 1966 | 0.6129 tonnes per hectare | +22.6% |
| 1967 | 0.6538 tonnes per hectare | +6.7% |
| 1968 | 0.5781 tonnes per hectare | -11.6% |
| 1969 | 0.3448 tonnes per hectare | -40.4% |
| 1970 | 0.75 tonnes per hectare | +117.5% |
| 1971 | 0.6957 tonnes per hectare | -7.2% |
| 1972 | 0.6471 tonnes per hectare | -7.0% |
| 1973 | 0.5246 tonnes per hectare | -18.9% |
| 1974 | 0.9403 tonnes per hectare | +79.2% |
| 1975 | 0.9324 tonnes per hectare | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 0.8295 tonnes per hectare | -11.0% |
| 1977 | 1.18 tonnes per hectare | +42.0% |
| 1978 | 1.38 tonnes per hectare | +17.0% |
| 1979 | 1.32 tonnes per hectare | -4.3% |
| 1980 | 0.8824 tonnes per hectare | -33.0% |
| 1981 | 1.54 tonnes per hectare | +74.1% |
| 1982 | 1.72 tonnes per hectare | +11.9% |
| 1983 | 1.95 tonnes per hectare | +13.4% |
| 1984 | 1.99 tonnes per hectare | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 2.53 tonnes per hectare | +27.5% |
| 1986 | 2.19 tonnes per hectare | -13.7% |
| 1987 | 2.8 tonnes per hectare | +28.0% |
| 1988 | 1.57 tonnes per hectare | -43.8% |
| 1989 | 2.74 tonnes per hectare | +74.1% |
| 1990 | 2.38 tonnes per hectare | -13.1% |
| 1991 | 1.26 tonnes per hectare | -47.1% |
| 1992 | 2.01 tonnes per hectare | +59.4% |
| 1993 | 2.01 tonnes per hectare | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 2.29 tonnes per hectare | +14.1% |
| 1995 | 2.4 tonnes per hectare | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 1.39 tonnes per hectare | -42.3% |
| 1997 | 1.38 tonnes per hectare | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 1.92 tonnes per hectare | +39.3% |
| 1999 | 0.8928 tonnes per hectare | -53.5% |
| 2000 | 1.83 tonnes per hectare | +105.3% |
| 2001 | 1.93 tonnes per hectare | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 2.55 tonnes per hectare | +32.2% |
| 2003 | 2.85 tonnes per hectare | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 2.22 tonnes per hectare | -22.0% |
| 2005 | 2.5 tonnes per hectare | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 2.63 tonnes per hectare | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 3.03 tonnes per hectare | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 2.81 tonnes per hectare | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 2.89 tonnes per hectare | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 2.35 tonnes per hectare | -18.8% |
| 2011 | 3.89 tonnes per hectare | +65.9% |
| 2012 | 3.51 tonnes per hectare | -9.9% |
| 2013 | 3.29 tonnes per hectare | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 3.55 tonnes per hectare | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 3.54 tonnes per hectare | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 4 tonnes per hectare | +13.0% |
| 2017 | 3.36 tonnes per hectare | -16.1% |
| 2018 | 3.54 tonnes per hectare | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 2.61 tonnes per hectare | -26.2% |
| 2020 | 4.15 tonnes per hectare | +58.7% |
| 2021 | 3.53 tonnes per hectare | -15.0% |
| 2022 | 2.99 tonnes per hectare | -15.2% |
| 2023 | 3.5 tonnes per hectare | +17.2% |
| 2024 | 3.71 tonnes per hectare | +6.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.71 tonnes per hectare is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.5 tonnes per hectare, 1.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.71 tonnes per hectare is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.35 tonnes per hectare, 1.6× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.5921 tonnes per hectare | 0.3448 tonnes per hectare | 0.7966 tonnes per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.9193 tonnes per hectare | 0.5246 tonnes per hectare | 1.38 tonnes per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.99 tonnes per hectare | 0.8824 tonnes per hectare | 2.8 tonnes per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.79 tonnes per hectare | 0.8928 tonnes per hectare | 2.4 tonnes per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.52 tonnes per hectare | 1.83 tonnes per hectare | 3.03 tonnes per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.36 tonnes per hectare | 2.35 tonnes per hectare | 4 tonnes per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.58 tonnes per hectare | 2.99 tonnes per hectare | 4.15 tonnes per hectare | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 barley yields in South Africa?
- Barley yields in South Africa was 3.71 tonnes per hectare in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025); Broadberry et al. (2015); Brassley (2000) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest barley yields recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.15 tonnes per hectare in 2020.
- What is the lowest barley yields recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3448 tonnes per hectare in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for barley yields?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 105 countries with data for 2024.
- Is barley yields rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025); Broadberry et al. (2015); Brassley (2000) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Barley yields. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Yields are measured in tonnes per hectare.