Cereal yield in South Africa
South Africa: Cereal yield was 4,562 kg per hectare in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cereal yield in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in kg per hectare.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4,562 kg per hectare for cereal yield in 2024.
That represents a change of down 20.0% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cereal yield in South Africa peaked at 5,703 kg per hectare in 2023 and was at its lowest, 911.4 kg per hectare, in 1965.
South Africa ranks 51st of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cereal yield in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kg per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,099 kg per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 1,142 kg per hectare | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 1,128 kg per hectare | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 913.9 kg per hectare | -19.0% |
| 1965 | 911.4 kg per hectare | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 1,010 kg per hectare | +10.9% |
| 1967 | 1,726 kg per hectare | +70.8% |
| 1968 | 1,006 kg per hectare | -41.7% |
| 1969 | 1,041 kg per hectare | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 1,187 kg per hectare | +14.0% |
| 1971 | 1,498 kg per hectare | +26.2% |
| 1972 | 1,594 kg per hectare | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 1,008 kg per hectare | -36.8% |
| 1974 | 1,876 kg per hectare | +86.2% |
| 1975 | 1,624 kg per hectare | -13.4% |
| 1976 | 1,392 kg per hectare | -14.3% |
| 1977 | 1,752 kg per hectare | +25.9% |
| 1978 | 1,876 kg per hectare | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 1,610 kg per hectare | -14.2% |
| 1980 | 2,017 kg per hectare | +25.3% |
| 1981 | 2,680 kg per hectare | +32.9% |
| 1982 | 1,660 kg per hectare | -38.1% |
| 1983 | 960.2 kg per hectare | -42.1% |
| 1984 | 1,084 kg per hectare | +12.9% |
| 1985 | 1,576 kg per hectare | +45.4% |
| 1986 | 1,589 kg per hectare | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 1,629 kg per hectare | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 1,672 kg per hectare | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 2,282 kg per hectare | +36.5% |
| 1990 | 1,877 kg per hectare | -17.7% |
| 1991 | 1,986 kg per hectare | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 944.7 kg per hectare | -52.4% |
| 1993 | 2,160 kg per hectare | +128.7% |
| 1994 | 2,585 kg per hectare | +19.7% |
| 1995 | 1,419 kg per hectare | -45.1% |
| 1996 | 2,490 kg per hectare | +75.5% |
| 1997 | 2,272 kg per hectare | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 2,182 kg per hectare | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 2,191 kg per hectare | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 2,766 kg per hectare | +26.2% |
| 2001 | 2,424 kg per hectare | -12.4% |
| 2002 | 2,773 kg per hectare | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 2,537 kg per hectare | -8.5% |
| 2004 | 2,778 kg per hectare | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 3,310 kg per hectare | +19.1% |
| 2006 | 3,141 kg per hectare | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 2,790 kg per hectare | -11.2% |
| 2008 | 4,063 kg per hectare | +45.6% |
| 2009 | 4,406 kg per hectare | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 4,150 kg per hectare | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 4,017 kg per hectare | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 4,244 kg per hectare | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 4,043 kg per hectare | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 4,900 kg per hectare | +21.2% |
| 2015 | 3,348 kg per hectare | -31.7% |
| 2016 | 3,623 kg per hectare | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 5,332 kg per hectare | +47.2% |
| 2018 | 4,652 kg per hectare | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 4,102 kg per hectare | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 5,121 kg per hectare | +24.9% |
| 2021 | 5,494 kg per hectare | +7.3% |
| 2022 | 5,310 kg per hectare | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 5,703 kg per hectare | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 4,562 kg per hectare | -20.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,109 kg per hectare | 911.4 kg per hectare | 1,726 kg per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,542 kg per hectare | 1,008 kg per hectare | 1,876 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,715 kg per hectare | 960.2 kg per hectare | 2,680 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,011 kg per hectare | 944.7 kg per hectare | 2,585 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,099 kg per hectare | 2,424 kg per hectare | 4,406 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,241 kg per hectare | 3,348 kg per hectare | 5,332 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,238 kg per hectare | 4,562 kg per hectare | 5,703 kg 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)
- Agriculture share gdp 2.83 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 2.83 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cereal yield in South Africa?
- Cereal yield in South Africa was 4,562 kg per hectare in 2024, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest cereal yield recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,703 kg per hectare in 2023.
- What is the lowest cereal yield recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 911.4 kg per hectare in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for cereal yield?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cereal yield rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Cereal yield, measured as kilograms per hectare of harvested land, includes 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. The FAO allocates production data to the calendar year in which the bulk of the harvest took place. Most of a crop harvested near the end of a year will be used in the following year.