Per capita meat consumption by type in South Africa
South Africa: Per capita meat consumption by type was 0.84 kilograms per year per capita in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.84 kilograms per year per capita
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
66th
of 191 countries
All-time high
1.19 kilograms per year per capita
in 1994
All-time low
0 kilograms per year per capita
in 1966
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Per capita meat consumption by type in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per year per capita.
Analysis
In 2023, per capita meat consumption by type in South Africa stood at 0.84 kilograms per year per capita.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita meat consumption by type in South Africa peaked at 1.19 kilograms per year per capita in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0 kilograms per year per capita, in 1966.
South Africa ranks 66th of 191 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita meat consumption by type in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilograms per year per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.0211 kilograms per year per capita | — |
| 1962 | 0.021 kilograms per year per capita | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 0.021 kilograms per year per capita | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 0.0104 kilograms per year per capita | -50.2% |
| 1965 | 0.0104 kilograms per year per capita | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 0 kilograms per year per capita | -100.0% |
| 1967 | 0.0103 kilograms per year per capita | — |
| 1968 | 0.0102 kilograms per year per capita | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 0.0304 kilograms per year per capita | +198.4% |
| 1970 | 0.0606 kilograms per year per capita | +99.1% |
| 1971 | 0.0504 kilograms per year per capita | -16.9% |
| 1972 | 0.0503 kilograms per year per capita | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 0.0703 kilograms per year per capita | +39.8% |
| 1974 | 0.0701 kilograms per year per capita | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 0.11 kilograms per year per capita | +56.9% |
| 1976 | 0.1198 kilograms per year per capita | +8.9% |
| 1977 | 0.0398 kilograms per year per capita | -66.7% |
| 1978 | 0.0695 kilograms per year per capita | +74.5% |
| 1979 | 0.0396 kilograms per year per capita | -43.0% |
| 1980 | 0.0788 kilograms per year per capita | +98.9% |
| 1981 | 0.1367 kilograms per year per capita | +73.5% |
| 1982 | 0.2227 kilograms per year per capita | +62.9% |
| 1983 | 0.2878 kilograms per year per capita | +29.2% |
| 1984 | 0.2566 kilograms per year per capita | -10.9% |
| 1985 | 0.2541 kilograms per year per capita | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 0.2051 kilograms per year per capita | -19.3% |
| 1987 | 0.1477 kilograms per year per capita | -28.0% |
| 1988 | 0.2287 kilograms per year per capita | +54.8% |
| 1989 | 0.2269 kilograms per year per capita | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 0.2528 kilograms per year per capita | +11.4% |
| 1991 | 0.2713 kilograms per year per capita | +7.3% |
| 1992 | 0.2914 kilograms per year per capita | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 0.2837 kilograms per year per capita | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 1.19 kilograms per year per capita | +319.1% |
| 1995 | 0.6139 kilograms per year per capita | -48.4% |
| 1996 | 0.2338 kilograms per year per capita | -61.9% |
| 1997 | 0.2161 kilograms per year per capita | -7.6% |
| 1998 | 0.2356 kilograms per year per capita | +9.0% |
| 1999 | 0.2743 kilograms per year per capita | +16.4% |
| 2000 | 0.2377 kilograms per year per capita | -13.3% |
| 2001 | 0.1531 kilograms per year per capita | -35.6% |
| 2002 | 0.2405 kilograms per year per capita | +57.1% |
| 2003 | 0.2802 kilograms per year per capita | +16.5% |
| 2004 | 0.3203 kilograms per year per capita | +14.3% |
| 2005 | 0.3509 kilograms per year per capita | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 0.3522 kilograms per year per capita | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 0.5007 kilograms per year per capita | +42.1% |
| 2008 | 0.6392 kilograms per year per capita | +27.7% |
| 2009 | 0.6493 kilograms per year per capita | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 0.61 kilograms per year per capita | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 0.84 kilograms per year per capita | +37.7% |
| 2012 | 0.76 kilograms per year per capita | -9.5% |
| 2013 | 0.75 kilograms per year per capita | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 0.83 kilograms per year per capita | +10.7% |
| 2015 | 0.83 kilograms per year per capita | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.77 kilograms per year per capita | -7.2% |
| 2017 | 0.81 kilograms per year per capita | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 0.86 kilograms per year per capita | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 0.77 kilograms per year per capita | -10.5% |
| 2020 | 0.77 kilograms per year per capita | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.79 kilograms per year per capita | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 0.82 kilograms per year per capita | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 0.84 kilograms per year per capita | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.015 kilograms per year per capita | 0 kilograms per year per capita | 0.0304 kilograms per year per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.068 kilograms per year per capita | 0.0396 kilograms per year per capita | 0.1198 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2045 kilograms per year per capita | 0.0788 kilograms per year per capita | 0.2878 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3862 kilograms per year per capita | 0.2161 kilograms per year per capita | 1.19 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3724 kilograms per year per capita | 0.1531 kilograms per year per capita | 0.6493 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.783 kilograms per year per capita | 0.61 kilograms per year per capita | 0.86 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.805 kilograms per year per capita | 0.77 kilograms per year per capita | 0.84 kilograms per year per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 63 Germany 0.93 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 64 Croatia 0.91 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 65 Bahrain 0.9 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 67 USSR 0.8254 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 68 Haiti 0.82 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 69 Chad 0.8067 kilograms per year per capita compare
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 per capita meat consumption by type in South Africa?
- Per capita meat consumption by type in South Africa was 0.84 kilograms per year per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita meat consumption by type recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.19 kilograms per year per capita in 1994.
- What is the lowest per capita meat consumption by type recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilograms per year per capita in 1966.
- How does South Africa rank for per capita meat consumption by type?
- South Africa ranks 66th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita meat consumption by type rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. 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 (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita meat consumption by type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.