Sorghum production in South Africa
South Africa: Sorghum production was 155,000 metric tons in 2011. ▼ Falling
Latest (2011)
155,000 metric tons
Change on year
down 21.1%
World rank
16th
of 41 countries
All-time high
728,000 metric tons
in 1967
All-time low
96,000 metric tons
in 2006
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Sorghum production in South Africa, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in metric tons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sorghum production in South Africa is 155,000 metric tons, measured in 2011.
The figure is down 21.1% on the previous year and down 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sorghum production in South Africa peaked at 728,000 metric tons in 1967 and was at its lowest, 96,000 metric tons, in 2006.
That places South Africa 16th out of 41 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Sorghum production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 335,022 metric tons | — |
| 1962 | 181,164 metric tons | -45.9% |
| 1963 | 272,000 metric tons | +50.1% |
| 1964 | 257,000 metric tons | -5.5% |
| 1965 | 414,000 metric tons | +61.1% |
| 1966 | 314,000 metric tons | -24.2% |
| 1967 | 728,000 metric tons | +131.8% |
| 1968 | 199,000 metric tons | -72.7% |
| 1969 | 199,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 379,000 metric tons | +90.5% |
| 1971 | 551,000 metric tons | +45.4% |
| 1972 | 510,000 metric tons | -7.4% |
| 1973 | 222,000 metric tons | -56.5% |
| 1974 | 685,000 metric tons | +208.6% |
| 1975 | 405,000 metric tons | -40.9% |
| 1976 | 310,000 metric tons | -23.5% |
| 1977 | 419,000 metric tons | +35.2% |
| 1978 | 620,000 metric tons | +48.0% |
| 1979 | 377,000 metric tons | -39.2% |
| 1980 | 711,000 metric tons | +88.6% |
| 1981 | 553,000 metric tons | -22.2% |
| 1982 | 302,000 metric tons | -45.4% |
| 1983 | 221,000 metric tons | -26.8% |
| 1984 | 498,000 metric tons | +125.3% |
| 1985 | 628,000 metric tons | +26.1% |
| 1986 | 487,000 metric tons | -22.5% |
| 1987 | 677,000 metric tons | +39.0% |
| 1988 | 651,000 metric tons | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 511,000 metric tons | -21.5% |
| 1990 | 341,000 metric tons | -33.3% |
| 1991 | 302,000 metric tons | -11.4% |
| 1992 | 118,000 metric tons | -60.9% |
| 1993 | 515,368 metric tons | +336.8% |
| 1994 | 520,185 metric tons | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 290,557 metric tons | -44.1% |
| 1996 | 535,839 metric tons | +84.4% |
| 1997 | 433,371 metric tons | -19.1% |
| 1998 | 358,469 metric tons | -17.3% |
| 1999 | 223,530 metric tons | -37.6% |
| 2000 | 472,763 metric tons | +111.5% |
| 2001 | 206,173 metric tons | -56.4% |
| 2002 | 258,000 metric tons | +25.1% |
| 2003 | 260,000 metric tons | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 373,000 metric tons | +43.5% |
| 2005 | 260,000 metric tons | -30.3% |
| 2006 | 96,000 metric tons | -63.1% |
| 2007 | 176,000 metric tons | +83.3% |
| 2008 | 255,000 metric tons | +44.9% |
| 2009 | 276,500 metric tons | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 196,500 metric tons | -28.9% |
| 2011 | 155,000 metric tons | -21.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 322,132 metric tons | 181,164 metric tons | 728,000 metric tons | 9 |
| 1970s | 447,800 metric tons | 222,000 metric tons | 685,000 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 523,900 metric tons | 221,000 metric tons | 711,000 metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 363,832 metric tons | 118,000 metric tons | 535,839 metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 263,344 metric tons | 96,000 metric tons | 472,763 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 175,750 metric tons | 155,000 metric tons | 196,500 metric tons | 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)
- Agriculture share gdp 2.83 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 2.83 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sorghum production in South Africa?
- Sorghum production in South Africa was 155,000 metric tons in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest sorghum production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 728,000 metric tons in 1967.
- What is the lowest sorghum production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 96,000 metric tons in 2006.
- How does South Africa rank for sorghum production?
- South Africa ranks 16th out of 41 countries with data for 2011.
- Is sorghum production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.8%. 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 Sorghum production (metric tons). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Production data on sorghum 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.