Cereals, primary — Yield in South Africa
South Africa: Cereals, primary — Yield was 4,562 kg/ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cereals, primary — Yield in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kg/ha.
Analysis
In 2024, cereals, primary — yield in South Africa stood at 4,562 kg/ha.
The figure is down 20.0% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cereals, primary — yield in South Africa peaked at 5,703 kg/ha in 2023 and was at its lowest, 911.4 kg/ha, in 1965.
South Africa ranks 65th of 234 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.
Cereals, primary — Yield in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kg/ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,099 kg/ha | — |
| 1962 | 1,142 kg/ha | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 1,128 kg/ha | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 913.9 kg/ha | -19.0% |
| 1965 | 911.4 kg/ha | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 1,010 kg/ha | +10.9% |
| 1967 | 1,726 kg/ha | +70.8% |
| 1968 | 1,006 kg/ha | -41.7% |
| 1969 | 1,041 kg/ha | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 1,187 kg/ha | +14.0% |
| 1971 | 1,498 kg/ha | +26.2% |
| 1972 | 1,594 kg/ha | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 1,008 kg/ha | -36.8% |
| 1974 | 1,876 kg/ha | +86.2% |
| 1975 | 1,624 kg/ha | -13.4% |
| 1976 | 1,392 kg/ha | -14.3% |
| 1977 | 1,752 kg/ha | +25.9% |
| 1978 | 1,876 kg/ha | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 1,610 kg/ha | -14.2% |
| 1980 | 2,017 kg/ha | +25.3% |
| 1981 | 2,680 kg/ha | +32.9% |
| 1982 | 1,660 kg/ha | -38.1% |
| 1983 | 960.2 kg/ha | -42.1% |
| 1984 | 1,084 kg/ha | +12.9% |
| 1985 | 1,576 kg/ha | +45.4% |
| 1986 | 1,589 kg/ha | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 1,629 kg/ha | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 1,672 kg/ha | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 2,282 kg/ha | +36.5% |
| 1990 | 1,877 kg/ha | -17.7% |
| 1991 | 1,986 kg/ha | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 944.7 kg/ha | -52.4% |
| 1993 | 2,160 kg/ha | +128.7% |
| 1994 | 2,585 kg/ha | +19.7% |
| 1995 | 1,419 kg/ha | -45.1% |
| 1996 | 2,490 kg/ha | +75.5% |
| 1997 | 2,272 kg/ha | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 2,182 kg/ha | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 2,191 kg/ha | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 2,766 kg/ha | +26.2% |
| 2001 | 2,424 kg/ha | -12.4% |
| 2002 | 2,773 kg/ha | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 2,537 kg/ha | -8.5% |
| 2004 | 2,778 kg/ha | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 3,310 kg/ha | +19.1% |
| 2006 | 3,141 kg/ha | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 2,790 kg/ha | -11.2% |
| 2008 | 4,063 kg/ha | +45.6% |
| 2009 | 4,406 kg/ha | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 4,150 kg/ha | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 4,017 kg/ha | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 4,244 kg/ha | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 4,043 kg/ha | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 4,900 kg/ha | +21.2% |
| 2015 | 3,348 kg/ha | -31.7% |
| 2016 | 3,623 kg/ha | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 5,332 kg/ha | +47.2% |
| 2018 | 4,652 kg/ha | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 4,102 kg/ha | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 5,121 kg/ha | +24.9% |
| 2021 | 5,494 kg/ha | +7.3% |
| 2022 | 5,310 kg/ha | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 5,703 kg/ha | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 4,562 kg/ha | -20.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4,562 kg/ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,427 kg/ha, 1.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4,562 kg/ha is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,342 kg/ha, 3.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,109 kg/ha | 911.4 kg/ha | 1,726 kg/ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,542 kg/ha | 1,008 kg/ha | 1,876 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,715 kg/ha | 960.2 kg/ha | 2,680 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,011 kg/ha | 944.7 kg/ha | 2,585 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,099 kg/ha | 2,424 kg/ha | 4,406 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,241 kg/ha | 3,348 kg/ha | 5,332 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,238 kg/ha | 4,562 kg/ha | 5,703 kg/ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 62 Papua New Guinea 4,787 kg/ha compare
- 63 Yugoslav SFR 4,652 kg/ha compare
- 64 Switzerland 4,584 kg/ha compare
- 66 Dominican Republic 4,455 kg/ha compare
- 67 Suriname 4,447 kg/ha compare
- 68 Colombia 4,422 kg/ha compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1917 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 1.49 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cereals, primary — yield in South Africa?
- Cereals, primary — yield in South Africa was 4,562 kg/ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest cereals, primary — yield recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,703 kg/ha in 2023.
- What is the lowest cereals, primary — yield recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 911.4 kg/ha in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for cereals, primary — yield?
- South Africa ranks 65th out of 234 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cereals, primary — 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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Cereals, primary — Yield. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
This dataset provides annual statistics on crop and livestock production across countries and territories. For crops, data are provided on area harvested, production quantities and yields. For livestock, data are provided on animal stocks, numbers of producing and slaughtered animals, and the production of meat, milk, eggs and other livestock products. The dataset also includes information on production quantities for selected processed products, such as vegetable oils, sugar, fibres, beer, wine and major dairy products.