Land under maize production in South Africa
South Africa: Land under maize production was 2.37 million hectares in 2011. ▼ Falling
Land under maize production in South Africa, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2011, land under maize production in South Africa stood at 2.37 million hectares.
That represents a change of down 13.5% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land under maize production in South Africa peaked at 5.06 million hectares in 1987 and was at its lowest, 2.03 million hectares, in 2006.
That places South Africa 3rd out of 49 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Land under maize production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.12 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 4.34 million hectares | +5.4% |
| 1963 | 4.34 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1964 | 4.43 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 4.29 million hectares | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 4.24 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 4.59 million hectares | +8.2% |
| 1968 | 4.73 million hectares | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 4.39 million hectares | -7.2% |
| 1970 | 4.42 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 4.80 million hectares | +8.6% |
| 1972 | 4.97 million hectares | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 3.98 million hectares | -20.0% |
| 1974 | 4.82 million hectares | +21.3% |
| 1975 | 4.79 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 4.99 million hectares | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 4.71 million hectares | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 4.41 million hectares | -6.2% |
| 1979 | 4.57 million hectares | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 4.56 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 4.49 million hectares | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 4.66 million hectares | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 4.68 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 4.84 million hectares | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 4.50 million hectares | -7.0% |
| 1986 | 4.83 million hectares | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 5.06 million hectares | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 4.74 million hectares | -6.5% |
| 1989 | 4.39 million hectares | -7.2% |
| 1990 | 4.16 million hectares | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 3.82 million hectares | -8.3% |
| 1992 | 4.17 million hectares | +9.4% |
| 1993 | 4.38 million hectares | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 4.66 million hectares | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 3.53 million hectares | -24.4% |
| 1996 | 3.76 million hectares | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 4.02 million hectares | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 3.56 million hectares | -11.5% |
| 1999 | 3.57 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 4.01 million hectares | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 3.19 million hectares | -20.5% |
| 2002 | 3.53 million hectares | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 3.65 million hectares | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 3.20 million hectares | -12.2% |
| 2005 | 3.22 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 2.03 million hectares | -36.9% |
| 2007 | 2.55 million hectares | +25.6% |
| 2008 | 2.80 million hectares | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 2.43 million hectares | -13.3% |
| 2010 | 2.74 million hectares | +13.0% |
| 2011 | 2.37 million hectares | -13.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.39 million hectares | 4.12 million hectares | 4.73 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.64 million hectares | 3.98 million hectares | 4.99 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.68 million hectares | 4.39 million hectares | 5.06 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.96 million hectares | 3.53 million hectares | 4.66 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.06 million hectares | 2.03 million hectares | 4.01 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.56 million hectares | 2.37 million hectares | 2.74 million hectares | 2 |
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)
- 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 land under maize production in South Africa?
- Land under maize production in South Africa was 2.37 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest land under maize production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.06 million hectares in 1987.
- What is the lowest land under maize production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.03 million hectares in 2006.
- How does South Africa rank for land under maize production?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 49 countries with data for 2011.
- Is land under maize production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Land under maize production (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Land under maize production refers to harvested area, although some countries report only sown or cultivated area. Production data on relate to crop harvested for dry grain only. Crop harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.