Potatoes — Area harvested in South Africa
South Africa: Potatoes — Area harvested was 69,129 ha in 2024. ▲ Rising
Potatoes — Area harvested in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in ha.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 69,129 ha for potatoes — area harvested in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.9% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potatoes — area harvested in South Africa peaked at 72,790 ha in 2019 and was at its lowest, 37,000 ha, in 1972.
That places South Africa 47th out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 64 years of available data.
Potatoes — Area harvested in South Africa, year by year
| Year | ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 43,682 ha | — |
| 1962 | 51,391 ha | +17.6% |
| 1963 | 51,391 ha | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 48,000 ha | -6.6% |
| 1965 | 50,000 ha | +4.2% |
| 1966 | 37,900 ha | -24.2% |
| 1967 | 41,050 ha | +8.3% |
| 1968 | 38,000 ha | -7.4% |
| 1969 | 55,000 ha | +44.7% |
| 1970 | 46,000 ha | -16.4% |
| 1971 | 55,000 ha | +19.6% |
| 1972 | 37,000 ha | -32.7% |
| 1973 | 40,000 ha | +8.1% |
| 1974 | 45,000 ha | +12.5% |
| 1975 | 48,000 ha | +6.7% |
| 1976 | 48,000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 50,000 ha | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 50,000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 49,000 ha | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 49,000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 61,000 ha | +24.5% |
| 1982 | 56,000 ha | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 60,000 ha | +7.1% |
| 1984 | 67,000 ha | +11.7% |
| 1985 | 66,000 ha | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 57,000 ha | -13.6% |
| 1987 | 57,000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 65,000 ha | +14.0% |
| 1989 | 71,606 ha | +10.2% |
| 1990 | 62,947 ha | -12.1% |
| 1991 | 66,064 ha | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 59,866 ha | -9.4% |
| 1993 | 55,911 ha | -6.6% |
| 1994 | 55,197 ha | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 55,197 ha | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 61,000 ha | +10.5% |
| 1997 | 55,973 ha | -8.2% |
| 1998 | 53,872 ha | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 56,680 ha | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 53,612 ha | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 56,000 ha | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 48,000 ha | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 50,000 ha | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 52,000 ha | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 53,000 ha | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 56,000 ha | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 58,000 ha | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 60,000 ha | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 55,000 ha | -8.3% |
| 2010 | 61,109 ha | +11.1% |
| 2011 | 62,860 ha | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 63,598 ha | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 61,635 ha | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 63,651 ha | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 69,435 ha | +9.1% |
| 2016 | 59,749 ha | -13.9% |
| 2017 | 68,107 ha | +14.0% |
| 2018 | 67,824 ha | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 72,790 ha | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 72,344 ha | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 69,675 ha | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 67,605 ha | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 64,070 ha | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 69,129 ha | +7.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 69,129 ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15,744 ha, 4.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 69,129 ha is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10,665 ha, 6.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 46,268 ha | 37,900 ha | 55,000 ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 46,800 ha | 37,000 ha | 55,000 ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 60,961 ha | 49,000 ha | 71,606 ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 58,271 ha | 53,872 ha | 66,064 ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 54,161 ha | 48,000 ha | 60,000 ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 65,076 ha | 59,749 ha | 72,790 ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 68,565 ha | 64,070 ha | 72,344 ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 potatoes — area harvested in South Africa?
- Potatoes — area harvested in South Africa was 69,129 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest potatoes — area harvested recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 72,790 ha in 2019.
- What is the lowest potatoes — area harvested recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37,000 ha in 1972.
- How does South Africa rank for potatoes — area harvested?
- South Africa ranks 47th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is potatoes — area harvested rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Potatoes — 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.