Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square in South Africa
South Africa: Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square was 4.85 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square in South Africa stood at 4.85 tonnes per square kilometre.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square in South Africa peaked at 6.97 tonnes per square kilometre in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.0709 tonnes per square kilometre, in 1965.
That places South Africa 133rd out of 189 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.1451 tonnes per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 0.103 tonnes per square kilometre | -29.0% |
| 1963 | 0.3207 tonnes per square kilometre | +211.2% |
| 1964 | 0.2168 tonnes per square kilometre | -32.4% |
| 1965 | 0.0709 tonnes per square kilometre | -67.3% |
| 1966 | 0.854 tonnes per square kilometre | +1104.7% |
| 1967 | 0.5309 tonnes per square kilometre | -37.8% |
| 1968 | 0.0923 tonnes per square kilometre | -82.6% |
| 1969 | 0.3734 tonnes per square kilometre | +304.5% |
| 1970 | 0.3701 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 0.1789 tonnes per square kilometre | -51.7% |
| 1972 | 0.1335 tonnes per square kilometre | -25.3% |
| 1973 | 0.1632 tonnes per square kilometre | +22.2% |
| 1974 | 0.1649 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 0.1335 tonnes per square kilometre | -19.0% |
| 1976 | 0.1533 tonnes per square kilometre | +14.8% |
| 1977 | 0.2152 tonnes per square kilometre | +40.3% |
| 1978 | 0.1533 tonnes per square kilometre | -28.7% |
| 1979 | 0.2011 tonnes per square kilometre | +31.2% |
| 1980 | 0.216 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 0.4938 tonnes per square kilometre | +128.6% |
| 1982 | 0.3297 tonnes per square kilometre | -33.2% |
| 1983 | 1.35 tonnes per square kilometre | +308.8% |
| 1984 | 2.82 tonnes per square kilometre | +109.3% |
| 1985 | 0.7254 tonnes per square kilometre | -74.3% |
| 1986 | 0.7567 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 0.5853 tonnes per square kilometre | -22.7% |
| 1988 | 0.4534 tonnes per square kilometre | -22.5% |
| 1989 | 0.4567 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 0.8713 tonnes per square kilometre | +90.8% |
| 1991 | 1.28 tonnes per square kilometre | +46.6% |
| 1992 | 4.11 tonnes per square kilometre | +221.9% |
| 1993 | 2.11 tonnes per square kilometre | -48.7% |
| 1994 | 1.13 tonnes per square kilometre | -46.6% |
| 1995 | 1.98 tonnes per square kilometre | +75.5% |
| 1996 | 1.92 tonnes per square kilometre | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 1.28 tonnes per square kilometre | -33.3% |
| 1998 | 1.23 tonnes per square kilometre | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 1.42 tonnes per square kilometre | +15.9% |
| 2000 | 1.53 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 1.08 tonnes per square kilometre | -29.6% |
| 2002 | 2.41 tonnes per square kilometre | +124.2% |
| 2003 | 1.93 tonnes per square kilometre | -19.9% |
| 2004 | 2.33 tonnes per square kilometre | +20.6% |
| 2005 | 2.03 tonnes per square kilometre | -12.7% |
| 2006 | 2.56 tonnes per square kilometre | +25.9% |
| 2007 | 2.94 tonnes per square kilometre | +14.7% |
| 2008 | 2.05 tonnes per square kilometre | -30.1% |
| 2009 | 2 tonnes per square kilometre | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 2.63 tonnes per square kilometre | +31.3% |
| 2011 | 3.72 tonnes per square kilometre | +41.5% |
| 2012 | 4.53 tonnes per square kilometre | +21.9% |
| 2013 | 4.18 tonnes per square kilometre | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 4.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 3.55 tonnes per square kilometre | -15.7% |
| 2016 | 6.97 tonnes per square kilometre | +96.1% |
| 2017 | 4.9 tonnes per square kilometre | -29.7% |
| 2018 | 4.85 tonnes per square kilometre | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 4.94 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 4.44 tonnes per square kilometre | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 4.25 tonnes per square kilometre | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 4.62 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.6% |
| 2023 | 4.85 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.85 tonnes per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.95 tonnes per square kilometre, 37% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.85 tonnes per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.57 tonnes per square kilometre, 87% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | +1104.7% | 0.0709 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.854 tonnes per square kilometre |
| 1983 | +308.8% | 0.3297 tonnes per square kilometre | 1.35 tonnes per square kilometre |
| 1969 | +304.5% | 0.0923 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.3734 tonnes per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.3008 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.0709 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.854 tonnes per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.1867 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.1335 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.3701 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8186 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.216 tonnes per square kilometre | 2.82 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.73 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.8713 tonnes per square kilometre | 4.11 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.09 tonnes per square kilometre | 1.08 tonnes per square kilometre | 2.94 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.45 tonnes per square kilometre | 2.63 tonnes per square kilometre | 6.97 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.54 tonnes per square kilometre | 4.25 tonnes per square kilometre | 4.85 tonnes per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 130 Estonia 5.31 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 131 Moldova 5.1 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 132 Cambodia 5.02 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 134 Vanuatu 4.76 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 135 Peru 4.7 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 136 Bulgaria 4.67 tonnes per square kilometre 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 cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square in South Africa?
- Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square in South Africa was 4.85 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.97 tonnes per square kilometre in 2016.
- What is the lowest cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0709 tonnes per square kilometre in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square?
- South Africa ranks 133rd out of 189 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. 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 Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters?, per square kilometre. 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
Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters? divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters? ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters? Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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
Cereals: which countries are net importers and exporters? divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.