Sorghum yield in South Africa
South Africa: Sorghum yield was 2,240 kg per hectare in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
2,240 kg per hectare
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
3rd
of 41 countries
All-time high
3,429 kg per hectare
in 2002
All-time low
542.9 kg per hectare
in 1963
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Sorghum yield in South Africa, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in kg per hectare.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2,240 kg per hectare for sorghum yield in 2011.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sorghum yield in South Africa peaked at 3,429 kg per hectare in 2002 and was at its lowest, 542.9 kg per hectare, in 1963.
That places South Africa 3rd out of 41 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Sorghum yield in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kg per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,021 kg per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 686.2 kg per hectare | -32.8% |
| 1963 | 542.9 kg per hectare | -20.9% |
| 1964 | 702.2 kg per hectare | +29.3% |
| 1965 | 857.1 kg per hectare | +22.1% |
| 1966 | 688.6 kg per hectare | -19.7% |
| 1967 | 1,138 kg per hectare | +65.2% |
| 1968 | 748.1 kg per hectare | -34.2% |
| 1969 | 780.4 kg per hectare | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 1,156 kg per hectare | +48.1% |
| 1971 | 1,450 kg per hectare | +25.5% |
| 1972 | 1,584 kg per hectare | +9.2% |
| 1973 | 1,037 kg per hectare | -34.5% |
| 1974 | 2,039 kg per hectare | +96.5% |
| 1975 | 1,594 kg per hectare | -21.8% |
| 1976 | 1,455 kg per hectare | -8.7% |
| 1977 | 1,481 kg per hectare | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 2,183 kg per hectare | +47.4% |
| 1979 | 1,508 kg per hectare | -30.9% |
| 1980 | 2,693 kg per hectare | +78.6% |
| 1981 | 2,525 kg per hectare | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 1,405 kg per hectare | -44.4% |
| 1983 | 894.7 kg per hectare | -36.3% |
| 1984 | 1,542 kg per hectare | +72.3% |
| 1985 | 1,774 kg per hectare | +15.1% |
| 1986 | 1,255 kg per hectare | -29.2% |
| 1987 | 1,688 kg per hectare | +34.5% |
| 1988 | 1,997 kg per hectare | +18.3% |
| 1989 | 2,241 kg per hectare | +12.2% |
| 1990 | 1,740 kg per hectare | -22.4% |
| 1991 | 1,819 kg per hectare | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 617.8 kg per hectare | -66.0% |
| 1993 | 2,156 kg per hectare | +249.0% |
| 1994 | 2,292 kg per hectare | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 2,032 kg per hectare | -11.3% |
| 1996 | 3,077 kg per hectare | +51.5% |
| 1997 | 2,692 kg per hectare | -12.5% |
| 1998 | 2,731 kg per hectare | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 2,260 kg per hectare | -17.2% |
| 2000 | 3,325 kg per hectare | +47.1% |
| 2001 | 2,343 kg per hectare | -29.5% |
| 2002 | 3,429 kg per hectare | +46.3% |
| 2003 | 2,723 kg per hectare | -20.6% |
| 2004 | 2,869 kg per hectare | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 3,006 kg per hectare | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 2,584 kg per hectare | -14.0% |
| 2007 | 2,551 kg per hectare | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 2,938 kg per hectare | +15.2% |
| 2009 | 3,234 kg per hectare | +10.1% |
| 2010 | 2,267 kg per hectare | -29.9% |
| 2011 | 2,240 kg per hectare | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 796.04 kg per hectare | 542.9 kg per hectare | 1,138 kg per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,549 kg per hectare | 1,037 kg per hectare | 2,183 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,802 kg per hectare | 894.7 kg per hectare | 2,693 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,142 kg per hectare | 617.8 kg per hectare | 3,077 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,900 kg per hectare | 2,343 kg per hectare | 3,429 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,254 kg per hectare | 2,240 kg per hectare | 2,267 kg per hectare | 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 yield in South Africa?
- Sorghum yield in South Africa was 2,240 kg per hectare in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest sorghum yield recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3,429 kg per hectare in 2002.
- What is the lowest sorghum yield recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 542.9 kg per hectare in 1963.
- How does South Africa rank for sorghum yield?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 41 countries with data for 2011.
- Is sorghum yield rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. 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, electronic files and web site, published as part of Sorghum yield (kg per hectare). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sorghum yield, measured as kilograms per hectare of harvested land. Production data on relate to crops harvested for dry grain only. Crop harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.