Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita was 2.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.8% for agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in 2025.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 9.3% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2013.
That places South Africa 134th out of 203 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.0% | — |
| 1961 | 9.3% | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 9.0% | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 8.8% | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 7.6% | -13.5% |
| 1965 | 7.4% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 7.7% | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 8.5% | +10.3% |
| 1968 | 7.1% | -16.0% |
| 1969 | 6.7% | -6.6% |
| 1970 | 5.7% | -13.8% |
| 1971 | 6.2% | +8.5% |
| 1972 | 6.2% | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 5.9% | -3.8% |
| 1974 | 7.2% | +21.1% |
| 1975 | 6.3% | -11.8% |
| 1976 | 5.6% | -12.1% |
| 1977 | 5.8% | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 5.6% | -4.1% |
| 1979 | 5.0% | -10.4% |
| 1980 | 5.3% | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 5.4% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 4.7% | -13.4% |
| 1983 | 3.7% | -22.3% |
| 1984 | 4.0% | +8.3% |
| 1985 | 4.3% | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 4.1% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 4.6% | +12.3% |
| 1988 | 4.8% | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 4.4% | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 3.8% | -14.1% |
| 1991 | 3.7% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 3.1% | -15.9% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | +8.7% |
| 1994 | 3.8% | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | -16.9% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | +9.5% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | -7.1% |
| 1999 | 2.8% | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | -8.1% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | -10.2% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | -9.1% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -13.5% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | +14.9% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | +9.2% |
| 2009 | 2.4% | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | -12.2% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 2.0% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | +8.1% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | -9.3% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | -13.7% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | +32.2% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +10.9% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | +0.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.8%, 41% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.8%, 14% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.1% | 6.7% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.0% | 5.0% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.1% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 6 |
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)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
- Rural population 36.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 2.8% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 1961.
- What is the lowest agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 134th out of 203 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agriculture as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agriculture includes the cultivation of crops and livestock production, as well as forestry, hunting, and fishing. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.