Chicken meat production in South Africa
South Africa: Chicken meat production was 1.92 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.92 million
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
17th
of 199 countries
All-time high
1.95 million
in 2022
All-time low
32,200
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Chicken meat production in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, chicken meat production in South Africa stood at 1.92 million.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, chicken meat production in South Africa peaked at 1.95 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 32,200, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 17th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Chicken meat production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 32,200 | — |
| 1962 | 37,800 | +17.4% |
| 1963 | 42,000 | +11.1% |
| 1964 | 49,000 | +16.7% |
| 1965 | 56,000 | +14.3% |
| 1966 | 65,800 | +17.5% |
| 1967 | 77,000 | +17.0% |
| 1968 | 88,200 | +14.5% |
| 1969 | 98,000 | +11.1% |
| 1970 | 104,386 | +6.5% |
| 1971 | 108,368 | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 126,725 | +16.9% |
| 1973 | 152,082 | +20.0% |
| 1974 | 147,621 | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 170,492 | +15.5% |
| 1976 | 195,315 | +14.6% |
| 1977 | 196,000 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 210,000 | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 211,900 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 231,900 | +9.4% |
| 1981 | 243,500 | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 262,200 | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 288,400 | +10.0% |
| 1984 | 293,500 | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 315,000 | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 330,000 | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 340,000 | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 350,000 | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 360,000 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 534,000 | +48.3% |
| 1991 | 499,000 | -6.6% |
| 1992 | 495,000 | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 523,000 | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 558,000 | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 600,000 | +7.5% |
| 1996 | 649,000 | +8.2% |
| 1997 | 692,000 | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 665,000 | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 706,000 | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 816,859 | +15.7% |
| 2001 | 893,000 | +9.3% |
| 2002 | 924,848 | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 899,599 | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 905,870 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 948,780 | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 971,250 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 1.12 million | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 1.33 million | +18.0% |
| 2009 | 1.39 million | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 1.47 million | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 1.49 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 1.49 million | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 1.67 million | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 1.72 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 1.73 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 1.68 million | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 1.66 million | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 1.74 million | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 1.81 million | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 1.89 million | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 1.91 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 1.95 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 1.86 million | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 1.92 million | +3.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.92 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 135,530, 14.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.92 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16,682, 114.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Chicken meat production 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +48.3% | 360,000 | 534,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 60,667 | 32,200 | 98,000 | 9 |
| 1970s | 162,289 | 104,386 | 211,900 | 10 |
| 1980s | 301,450 | 231,900 | 360,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 592,100 | 495,000 | 706,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.02 million | 816,859 | 1.39 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.65 million | 1.47 million | 1.81 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.90 million | 1.86 million | 1.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 chicken meat production in South Africa?
- Chicken meat production in South Africa was 1.92 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest chicken meat production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.95 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest chicken meat production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 32,200 in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for chicken meat production?
- South Africa ranks 17th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is chicken meat production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. 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 Chicken meat production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).