Wheat yield in South Africa
South Africa: Wheat yield was 3,316 kg per hectare in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Wheat 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 3,316 kg per hectare for wheat yield in 2011. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
The figure is up 29.4% on the previous year and up 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wheat yield in South Africa peaked at 3,316 kg per hectare in 2011 and was at its lowest, 482.4 kg per hectare, in 1965.
South Africa ranks 6th of 32 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wheat yield in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kg per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 619 kg per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 512.7 kg per hectare | -17.2% |
| 1963 | 579.3 kg per hectare | +13.0% |
| 1964 | 803.6 kg per hectare | +38.7% |
| 1965 | 482.4 kg per hectare | -40.0% |
| 1966 | 483.2 kg per hectare | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 829.7 kg per hectare | +71.7% |
| 1968 | 746.7 kg per hectare | -10.0% |
| 1969 | 711.4 kg per hectare | -4.7% |
| 1970 | 723.3 kg per hectare | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 830.8 kg per hectare | +14.9% |
| 1972 | 865.6 kg per hectare | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 924 kg per hectare | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 855.8 kg per hectare | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 974.4 kg per hectare | +13.9% |
| 1976 | 1,148 kg per hectare | +17.8% |
| 1977 | 1,028 kg per hectare | -10.4% |
| 1978 | 892.9 kg per hectare | -13.1% |
| 1979 | 1,097 kg per hectare | +22.8% |
| 1980 | 904.7 kg per hectare | -17.5% |
| 1981 | 1,300 kg per hectare | +43.7% |
| 1982 | 1,214 kg per hectare | -6.6% |
| 1983 | 980.8 kg per hectare | -19.2% |
| 1984 | 1,208 kg per hectare | +23.2% |
| 1985 | 853.8 kg per hectare | -29.3% |
| 1986 | 1,199 kg per hectare | +40.4% |
| 1987 | 1,803 kg per hectare | +50.4% |
| 1988 | 1,802 kg per hectare | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 1,091 kg per hectare | -39.5% |
| 1990 | 1,093 kg per hectare | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 1,492 kg per hectare | +36.4% |
| 1992 | 1,765 kg per hectare | +18.3% |
| 1993 | 1,845 kg per hectare | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 1,756 kg per hectare | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 1,451 kg per hectare | -17.4% |
| 1996 | 2,096 kg per hectare | +44.5% |
| 1997 | 1,758 kg per hectare | -16.2% |
| 1998 | 2,530 kg per hectare | +43.9% |
| 1999 | 2,414 kg per hectare | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 2,600 kg per hectare | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 2,571 kg per hectare | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 2,591 kg per hectare | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 2,068 kg per hectare | -20.2% |
| 2004 | 2,032 kg per hectare | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 2,366 kg per hectare | +16.4% |
| 2006 | 2,752 kg per hectare | +16.3% |
| 2007 | 3,014 kg per hectare | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 2,848 kg per hectare | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 3,048 kg per hectare | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 2,562 kg per hectare | -15.9% |
| 2011 | 3,316 kg per hectare | +29.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 640.89 kg per hectare | 482.4 kg per hectare | 829.7 kg per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 933.89 kg per hectare | 723.3 kg per hectare | 1,148 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,236 kg per hectare | 853.8 kg per hectare | 1,803 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,820 kg per hectare | 1,093 kg per hectare | 2,530 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,589 kg per hectare | 2,032 kg per hectare | 3,048 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,939 kg per hectare | 2,562 kg per hectare | 3,316 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 wheat yield in South Africa?
- Wheat yield in South Africa was 3,316 kg per hectare in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest wheat yield recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3,316 kg per hectare in 2011.
- What is the lowest wheat yield recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 482.4 kg per hectare in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for wheat yield?
- South Africa ranks 6th out of 32 countries with data for 2011.
- Is wheat yield rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.0%. 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, electronic files and web site, published as part of Wheat yield (kg per hectare). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Wheat 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.