Cereal cropland in South Africa
South Africa: Cereal cropland was 2.6% in 2011. ▼ Falling
Cereal cropland in South Africa, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, Production Yearbook and data files. Measured in % of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cereal cropland in South Africa is 2.6%, measured in 2011.
The figure is down 9.5% on the previous year and down 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cereal cropland in South Africa peaked at 6.2% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 2006.
That places South Africa 34th out of 51 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Cereal cropland in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.0% | — |
| 1962 | 5.1% | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 5.5% | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 5.3% | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 5.3% | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 5.0% | -4.6% |
| 1967 | 5.7% | +12.4% |
| 1968 | 5.7% | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 5.6% | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 5.7% | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 6.1% | +7.4% |
| 1972 | 6.2% | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 5.3% | -14.4% |
| 1974 | 6.0% | +12.8% |
| 1975 | 5.9% | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 6.1% | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 5.8% | -4.9% |
| 1978 | 5.6% | -3.2% |
| 1979 | 5.7% | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 5.5% | -4.7% |
| 1981 | 5.5% | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 5.8% | +5.5% |
| 1983 | 5.7% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 6.0% | +5.2% |
| 1985 | 5.8% | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 6.1% | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 6.1% | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 6.0% | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 5.5% | -7.4% |
| 1990 | 5.1% | -8.4% |
| 1991 | 4.7% | -7.8% |
| 1992 | 4.4% | -5.7% |
| 1993 | 4.9% | +10.8% |
| 1994 | 5.1% | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | -14.6% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 4.8% | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 3.9% | -19.5% |
| 1999 | 3.8% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | +15.0% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | -16.2% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | -30.1% |
| 2007 | 2.8% | +13.9% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | -12.5% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | -9.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.4% | 5.0% | 5.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.8% | 5.3% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.8% | 5.5% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.5% | 3.8% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.5% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2 |
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 cereal cropland in South Africa?
- Cereal cropland in South Africa was 2.6% in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, Production Yearbook and data files.
- What is the highest cereal cropland recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.2% in 1972.
- What is the lowest cereal cropland recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 2006.
- How does South Africa rank for cereal cropland?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 51 countries with data for 2011.
- Is cereal cropland rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, Production Yearbook and data files, published as part of Cereal cropland (% of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Land under cereal production refers to harvested area, although some countries report only sown or cultivated area. Cereals include wheat, rice, maize, barley, oats, rye, millet, sorghum, buckwheat, and mixed grains. Production data on cereals relate to crops harvested for dry grain only. Cereal crops harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.