Land animals slaughtered for meat in South Africa
South Africa: Land animals slaughtered for meat was 1.05 billion in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.05 billion
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
19th
of 197 countries
All-time high
1.06 billion
in 2012
All-time low
23.00 million
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Land animals slaughtered for meat in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.05 billion for land animals slaughtered for meat in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land animals slaughtered for meat in South Africa peaked at 1.06 billion in 2012 and was at its lowest, 23.00 million, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 19th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land animals slaughtered for meat in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 23.00 million | — |
| 1962 | 27.00 million | +17.4% |
| 1963 | 30.00 million | +11.1% |
| 1964 | 35.00 million | +16.7% |
| 1965 | 40.00 million | +14.3% |
| 1966 | 47.00 million | +17.5% |
| 1967 | 55.00 million | +17.0% |
| 1968 | 63.00 million | +14.5% |
| 1969 | 70.00 million | +11.1% |
| 1970 | 74.79 million | +6.8% |
| 1971 | 77.60 million | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 90.52 million | +16.6% |
| 1973 | 108.63 million | +20.0% |
| 1974 | 122.58 million | +12.8% |
| 1975 | 126.77 million | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 143.61 million | +13.3% |
| 1977 | 144.00 million | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 150.00 million | +4.2% |
| 1979 | 155.80 million | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 171.77 million | +10.3% |
| 1981 | 181.71 million | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 195.67 million | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 215.22 million | +10.0% |
| 1984 | 225.00 million | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 240.00 million | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 250.00 million | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 260.00 million | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 270.00 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 280.00 million | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 385.00 million | +37.5% |
| 1991 | 356.00 million | -7.5% |
| 1992 | 350.00 million | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 370.00 million | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 390.00 million | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 417.00 million | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 450.00 million | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 480.00 million | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 470.00 million | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 495.00 million | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 520.00 million | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 572.00 million | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 615.00 million | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 595.00 million | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 590.50 million | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 618.47 million | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 633.12 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 750.00 million | +18.5% |
| 2008 | 897.00 million | +19.6% |
| 2009 | 977.18 million | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 1.04 billion | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 1.05 billion | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 1.06 billion | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 940.45 million | -10.9% |
| 2014 | 958.43 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 1.00 billion | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 935.57 million | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 927.15 million | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 944.41 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 1.00 billion | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 1.03 billion | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 1.04 billion | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 1.03 billion | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 1.04 billion | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 1.05 billion | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 43.33 million | 23.00 million | 70.00 million | 9 |
| 1970s | 119.43 million | 74.79 million | 155.80 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 228.94 million | 171.77 million | 280.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 416.30 million | 350.00 million | 495.00 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 676.83 million | 520.00 million | 977.18 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 986.62 million | 927.15 million | 1.06 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.04 billion | 1.03 billion | 1.05 billion | 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 land animals slaughtered for meat in South Africa?
- Land animals slaughtered for meat in South Africa was 1.05 billion in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land animals slaughtered for meat recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.06 billion in 2012.
- What is the lowest land animals slaughtered for meat recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.00 million in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for land animals slaughtered for meat?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is land animals slaughtered for meat rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.1%. 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 Land animals slaughtered for meat. 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).