Change of cereal yield vs land used in South Africa
South Africa: Change of cereal yield vs land used was 4.56 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.56
Change on year
down 20.0%
World rank
54th
of 186 countries
All-time high
5.7
in 2023
All-time low
0.9114
in 1965
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Change of cereal yield vs land used in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, change of cereal yield vs land used in South Africa stood at 4.56.
The figure is down 20.0% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, change of cereal yield vs land used in South Africa peaked at 5.7 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.9114, in 1965.
That places South Africa 54th out of 186 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.
Change of cereal yield vs land used in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.1 | — |
| 1962 | 1.14 | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 1.13 | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 0.9139 | -19.0% |
| 1965 | 0.9114 | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 1.01 | +10.9% |
| 1967 | 1.73 | +70.8% |
| 1968 | 1.01 | -41.7% |
| 1969 | 1.04 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 1.19 | +14.0% |
| 1971 | 1.5 | +26.2% |
| 1972 | 1.59 | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 1.01 | -36.8% |
| 1974 | 1.88 | +86.2% |
| 1975 | 1.62 | -13.4% |
| 1976 | 1.39 | -14.3% |
| 1977 | 1.75 | +25.9% |
| 1978 | 1.88 | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 1.61 | -14.2% |
| 1980 | 2.02 | +25.3% |
| 1981 | 2.68 | +32.9% |
| 1982 | 1.66 | -38.1% |
| 1983 | 0.9602 | -42.1% |
| 1984 | 1.08 | +12.9% |
| 1985 | 1.58 | +45.4% |
| 1986 | 1.59 | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 1.63 | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 1.67 | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 2.28 | +36.5% |
| 1990 | 1.88 | -17.7% |
| 1991 | 1.99 | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 0.9447 | -52.4% |
| 1993 | 2.16 | +128.7% |
| 1994 | 2.58 | +19.7% |
| 1995 | 1.42 | -45.1% |
| 1996 | 2.49 | +75.5% |
| 1997 | 2.27 | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 2.18 | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 2.19 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 2.77 | +26.2% |
| 2001 | 2.42 | -12.4% |
| 2002 | 2.77 | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 2.54 | -8.5% |
| 2004 | 2.78 | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 3.31 | +19.1% |
| 2006 | 3.14 | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 2.79 | -11.2% |
| 2008 | 4.06 | +45.6% |
| 2009 | 4.41 | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 4.15 | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 4.02 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 4.24 | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 4.04 | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 4.9 | +21.2% |
| 2015 | 3.35 | -31.7% |
| 2016 | 3.62 | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 5.33 | +47.2% |
| 2018 | 4.65 | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 4.1 | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 5.12 | +24.9% |
| 2021 | 5.49 | +7.3% |
| 2022 | 5.31 | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 5.7 | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 4.56 | -20.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.56 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.39, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.56 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.34, 3.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.11 | 0.9114 | 1.73 | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.54 | 1.01 | 1.88 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.71 | 0.9602 | 2.68 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.01 | 0.9447 | 2.58 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.1 | 2.42 | 4.41 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.24 | 3.35 | 5.33 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.24 | 4.56 | 5.7 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 51 Peru 4.85 compare
- 52 Papua New Guinea 4.79 compare
- 53 Switzerland 4.58 compare
- 55 Dominican Republic 4.46 compare
- 56 Suriname 4.45 compare
- 57 Colombia 4.42 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 change of cereal yield vs land used in South Africa?
- Change of cereal yield vs land used in South Africa was 4.56 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest change of cereal yield vs land used recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7 in 2023.
- What is the lowest change of cereal yield vs land used recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9114 in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for change of cereal yield vs land used?
- South Africa ranks 54th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is change of cereal yield vs land used 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Change of cereal yield vs land used. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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