Maize (corn) — Yield in South Africa
South Africa: Maize (corn) — Yield was 4,874 kg/ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Maize (corn) — Yield in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kg/ha.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4,874 kg/ha for maize (corn) — yield in 2024.
That represents a change of down 23.3% on the previous year and down 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maize (corn) — yield in South Africa peaked at 6,353 kg/ha in 2023 and was at its lowest, 785.3 kg/ha, in 1992.
That places South Africa 90th out of 218 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.
Maize (corn) — Yield in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kg/ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,285 kg/ha | — |
| 1962 | 1,388 kg/ha | +8.0% |
| 1963 | 1,412 kg/ha | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 972.3 kg/ha | -31.1% |
| 1965 | 1,074 kg/ha | +10.5% |
| 1966 | 1,217 kg/ha | +13.3% |
| 1967 | 2,136 kg/ha | +75.5% |
| 1968 | 1,133 kg/ha | -46.9% |
| 1969 | 1,226 kg/ha | +8.2% |
| 1970 | 1,399 kg/ha | +14.1% |
| 1971 | 1,802 kg/ha | +28.9% |
| 1972 | 1,917 kg/ha | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 1,057 kg/ha | -44.9% |
| 1974 | 2,299 kg/ha | +117.5% |
| 1975 | 1,907 kg/ha | -17.1% |
| 1976 | 1,507 kg/ha | -21.0% |
| 1977 | 2,081 kg/ha | +38.1% |
| 1978 | 2,313 kg/ha | +11.1% |
| 1979 | 1,856 kg/ha | -19.8% |
| 1980 | 2,420 kg/ha | +30.4% |
| 1981 | 3,314 kg/ha | +37.0% |
| 1982 | 1,883 kg/ha | -43.2% |
| 1983 | 940 kg/ha | -50.1% |
| 1984 | 991.3 kg/ha | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 1,876 kg/ha | +89.2% |
| 1986 | 1,781 kg/ha | -5.0% |
| 1987 | 1,558 kg/ha | -12.5% |
| 1988 | 1,620 kg/ha | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 2,840 kg/ha | +75.4% |
| 1990 | 2,205 kg/ha | -22.4% |
| 1991 | 2,257 kg/ha | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 785.3 kg/ha | -65.2% |
| 1993 | 2,284 kg/ha | +190.8% |
| 1994 | 2,848 kg/ha | +24.7% |
| 1995 | 1,380 kg/ha | -51.5% |
| 1996 | 2,704 kg/ha | +96.0% |
| 1997 | 2,520 kg/ha | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 2,161 kg/ha | -14.2% |
| 1999 | 2,227 kg/ha | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 2,849 kg/ha | +27.9% |
| 2001 | 2,437 kg/ha | -14.5% |
| 2002 | 2,852 kg/ha | +17.0% |
| 2003 | 2,658 kg/ha | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 3,030 kg/ha | +14.0% |
| 2005 | 3,635 kg/ha | +20.0% |
| 2006 | 3,412 kg/ha | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 2,792 kg/ha | -18.2% |
| 2008 | 4,537 kg/ha | +62.5% |
| 2009 | 4,964 kg/ha | +9.4% |
| 2010 | 4,674 kg/ha | -5.9% |
| 2011 | 4,367 kg/ha | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 4,490 kg/ha | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 4,247 kg/ha | -5.4% |
| 2014 | 5,301 kg/ha | +24.8% |
| 2015 | 3,487 kg/ha | -34.2% |
| 2016 | 3,712 kg/ha | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 5,860 kg/ha | +57.9% |
| 2018 | 4,976 kg/ha | -15.1% |
| 2019 | 4,554 kg/ha | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 5,448 kg/ha | +19.6% |
| 2021 | 5,921 kg/ha | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 5,898 kg/ha | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 6,353 kg/ha | +7.7% |
| 2024 | 4,874 kg/ha | -23.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4,874 kg/ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,175 kg/ha, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4,874 kg/ha is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,273 kg/ha, 3.8× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maize (corn) — Yield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +190.8% | 785.3 kg/ha | 2,284 kg/ha |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,316 kg/ha | 972.3 kg/ha | 2,136 kg/ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,814 kg/ha | 1,057 kg/ha | 2,313 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,922 kg/ha | 940 kg/ha | 3,314 kg/ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,137 kg/ha | 785.3 kg/ha | 2,848 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,317 kg/ha | 2,437 kg/ha | 4,964 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,567 kg/ha | 3,487 kg/ha | 5,860 kg/ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,699 kg/ha | 4,874 kg/ha | 6,353 kg/ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 87 Iraq 5,000 kg/ha compare
- 88 Lao People's Democratic Republic 4,974 kg/ha compare
- 88 Laos 4,974 kg/ha compare
- 91 Uruguay 4,699 kg/ha compare
- 92 Thailand 4,661 kg/ha compare
- 93 North Macedonia 4,603 kg/ha compare
- 93 North Macedonia 4,603 kg/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) — yield in South Africa?
- Maize (corn) — yield in South Africa was 4,874 kg/ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest maize (corn) — yield recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6,353 kg/ha in 2023.
- What is the lowest maize (corn) — yield recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 785.3 kg/ha in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for maize (corn) — yield?
- South Africa ranks 90th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is maize (corn) — yield rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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) — Yield. 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.