Maize (corn) — Area harvested in South Africa
South Africa: Maize (corn) — Area harvested was 2.64 million ha in 2024. ▼ Falling
Maize (corn) — Area harvested in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in ha.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.64 million ha for maize (corn) — area harvested in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maize (corn) — area harvested in South Africa peaked at 5.06 million ha in 1987 and was at its lowest, 2.03 million ha, in 2006.
South Africa ranks 18th of 222 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Maize (corn) — Area harvested in South Africa, year by year
| Year | ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.12 million ha | — |
| 1962 | 4.34 million ha | +5.4% |
| 1963 | 4.34 million ha | -0.0% |
| 1964 | 4.43 million ha | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 4.29 million ha | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 4.24 million ha | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 4.59 million ha | +8.2% |
| 1968 | 4.73 million ha | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 4.39 million ha | -7.2% |
| 1970 | 4.42 million ha | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 4.80 million ha | +8.6% |
| 1972 | 4.97 million ha | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 3.98 million ha | -20.0% |
| 1974 | 4.82 million ha | +21.3% |
| 1975 | 4.79 million ha | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 4.99 million ha | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 4.71 million ha | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 4.41 million ha | -6.2% |
| 1979 | 4.57 million ha | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 4.56 million ha | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 4.49 million ha | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 4.66 million ha | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 4.68 million ha | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 4.84 million ha | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 4.50 million ha | -7.0% |
| 1986 | 4.83 million ha | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 5.06 million ha | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 4.74 million ha | -6.5% |
| 1989 | 4.39 million ha | -7.2% |
| 1990 | 4.16 million ha | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 3.82 million ha | -8.3% |
| 1992 | 4.17 million ha | +9.4% |
| 1993 | 4.38 million ha | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 4.66 million ha | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 3.53 million ha | -24.4% |
| 1996 | 3.76 million ha | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 4.02 million ha | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 3.56 million ha | -11.5% |
| 1999 | 3.57 million ha | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 4.01 million ha | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 3.19 million ha | -20.5% |
| 2002 | 3.53 million ha | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 3.65 million ha | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 3.20 million ha | -12.2% |
| 2005 | 3.22 million ha | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 2.03 million ha | -36.9% |
| 2007 | 2.55 million ha | +25.6% |
| 2008 | 2.80 million ha | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 2.43 million ha | -13.3% |
| 2010 | 2.74 million ha | +13.0% |
| 2011 | 2.37 million ha | -13.5% |
| 2012 | 2.70 million ha | +13.8% |
| 2013 | 2.78 million ha | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 2.69 million ha | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 3.05 million ha | +13.4% |
| 2016 | 2.21 million ha | -27.4% |
| 2017 | 3.00 million ha | +35.4% |
| 2018 | 2.63 million ha | -12.1% |
| 2019 | 2.60 million ha | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 2.91 million ha | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 2.76 million ha | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 2.62 million ha | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 2.59 million ha | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 2.64 million ha | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.64 million ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 63,256 ha, 41.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.64 million ha is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 275,000 ha, 9.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.39 million ha | 4.12 million ha | 4.73 million ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.64 million ha | 3.98 million ha | 4.99 million ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.68 million ha | 4.39 million ha | 5.06 million ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.96 million ha | 3.53 million ha | 4.66 million ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.06 million ha | 2.03 million ha | 4.01 million ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.68 million ha | 2.21 million ha | 3.05 million ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.70 million ha | 2.59 million ha | 2.91 million ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 15 Mozambique 2.86 million ha compare
- 15 Mozambique 2.86 million ha compare
- 17 Angola 2.82 million ha compare
- 19 Indonesia 2.55 million ha compare
- 20 Philippines 2.46 million ha compare
- 21 Kenya 2.41 million ha 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 maize (corn) — area harvested in South Africa?
- Maize (corn) — area harvested in South Africa was 2.64 million ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest maize (corn) — area harvested recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.06 million ha in 1987.
- What is the lowest maize (corn) — area harvested recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.03 million ha in 2006.
- How does South Africa rank for maize (corn) — area harvested?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 222 countries with data for 2024.
- Is maize (corn) — area harvested rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. 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 of the United Nations, published as part of Maize (corn) — Area harvested. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
This dataset provides annual statistics on crop and livestock production across countries and territories. For crops, data are provided on area harvested, production quantities and yields. For livestock, data are provided on animal stocks, numbers of producing and slaughtered animals, and the production of meat, milk, eggs and other livestock products. The dataset also includes information on production quantities for selected processed products, such as vegetable oils, sugar, fibres, beer, wine and major dairy products.