Barley production in New Zealand
In 2024 New Zealand produced 355,515 t of barley, the 42nd largest in the world (0.25% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 12%. The record was 644,369 t in 1985. Area harvested: 46,155 ha, yield 7.7 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 355,515 t
- World rank
- 42 of 100
- 10-year change
- −12%
- Record
- 644,369 t
- 1985
Barley in New Zealand, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
New Zealand compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.25%
- 0.28% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 7.7
- world 3.2 (+139%)
- kg per person
- 68.2
- world 17.4
- 10-year change
- −12%
- world −1.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | Brazil | 427,956 | 0.30% |
| 41 | South Africa | 374,000 | 0.26% |
| 42 | New Zealand | 355,515 | 0.25% |
| 43 | Greece | 333,170 | 0.23% |
| 44 | Estonia | 315,200 | 0.22% |
Map of world production of barley
Share of the world total; New Zealand is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 355,515 | −0.7% | 46,155 | 7.70 |
| 2023 | 357,882 | +8.5% | 50,054 | 7.15 |
| 2022 | 329,728 | +1.4% | 48,171 | 6.84 |
| 2021 | 325,057 | −3.7% | 44,200 | 7.35 |
| 2020 | 337,666 | −12% | 45,145 | 7.48 |
| 2019 | 383,651 | +1.0% | 55,457 | 6.92 |
| 2018 | 379,704 | +28% | 56,271 | 6.75 |
| 2017 | 297,599 | −18% | 41,967 | 7.09 |
| 2016 | 364,186 | −17% | 51,892 | 7.02 |
| 2015 | 437,144 | +7.7% | 64,164 | 6.81 |
| 2014 | 405,747 | −2.6% | 59,337 | 6.84 |
| 2013 | 416,478 | −5.1% | 61,328 | 6.79 |
| 2012 | 438,789 | +19% | 65,703 | 6.68 |
| 2011 | 367,958 | +19% | 64,868 | 5.67 |
| 2010 | 308,298 | −29% | 52,340 | 5.89 |
| 2009 | 435,270 | +6.5% | 77,669 | 5.60 |
| 2008 | 408,730 | +15% | 67,435 | 6.06 |
| 2007 | 355,627 | +28% | 51,481 | 6.91 |
| 2006 | 277,020 | −8.3% | 47,078 | 5.88 |
| 2005 | 302,023 | +34% | 49,825 | 6.06 |
| 2004 | 226,082 | −39% | 48,503 | 4.66 |
| 2003 | 371,837 | −16% | 63,402 | 5.86 |
| 2002 | 440,883 | +21% | 78,097 | 5.65 |
| 2001 | 365,000 | +21% | 70,192 | 5.20 |
| 2000 | 302,000 | −0.7% | 54,500 | 5.54 |
| 1999 | 304,000 | −11% | 55,800 | 5.45 |
| 1998 | 340,000 | −17% | 58,900 | 5.77 |
| 1997 | 411,000 | +12% | 76,600 | 5.37 |
| 1996 | 367,181 | +21% | 74,300 | 4.94 |
| 1995 | 302,804 | −23% | 53,163 | 5.70 |
| 1994 | 395,476 | +1.5% | 76,858 | 5.15 |
| 1993 | 389,523 | +22% | 79,785 | 4.88 |
| 1992 | 318,787 | −17% | 67,380 | 4.73 |
| 1991 | 382,043 | −12% | 83,740 | 4.56 |
| 1990 | 434,856 | +33% | 93,800 | 4.64 |
| 1989 | 326,850 | −8.2% | 83,900 | 3.90 |
| 1988 | 356,055 | −11% | 80,500 | 4.42 |
| 1987 | 400,645 | −28% | 99,400 | 4.03 |
| 1986 | 556,200 | −14% | 138,551 | 4.01 |
| 1985 | 644,369 | +13% | 152,332 | 4.23 |
| 1984 | 571,010 | +65% | 125,415 | 4.55 |
| 1983 | 346,410 | −2.6% | 81,749 | 4.24 |
| 1982 | 355,787 | +31% | 87,428 | 4.07 |
| 1981 | 271,446 | +19% | 67,383 | 4.03 |
| 1980 | 228,347 | −13% | 66,461 | 3.44 |
| 1979 | 263,580 | +1.9% | 77,518 | 3.40 |
| 1978 | 258,690 | −4.9% | 70,837 | 3.65 |
| 1977 | 272,096 | −4.7% | 74,326 | 3.66 |
| 1976 | 285,495 | +8.6% | 84,739 | 3.37 |
| 1975 | 262,881 | +8.8% | 104,495 | 2.52 |
| 1974 | 241,569 | −15% | 87,143 | 2.77 |
| 1973 | 285,261 | −15% | 73,750 | 3.87 |
| 1972 | 335,484 | +29% | 96,263 | 3.49 |
| 1971 | 259,320 | +49% | 81,378 | 3.19 |
| 1970 | 174,443 | −25% | 56,080 | 3.11 |
| 1969 | 232,560 | +6.0% | 63,550 | 3.66 |
| 1968 | 219,339 | +64% | 62,725 | 3.50 |
| 1967 | 134,014 | +17% | 37,220 | 3.60 |
| 1966 | 114,080 | +7.7% | 33,986 | 3.36 |
| 1965 | 105,920 | −19% | 35,207 | 3.01 |
| 1964 | 131,000 | +37% | 38,031 | 3.44 |
| 1963 | 95,293 | +18% | 35,381 | 2.69 |
| 1962 | 80,760 | +4.3% | 31,207 | 2.59 |
| 1961 | 77,467 | — | 26,543 | 2.92 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 26 t USD 40,000
- Exporter rank
- 66 of 79
- Imports
- 3,279 t USD 989,000
- Importer rank
- 79 of 132
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of barley in New Zealand?
New Zealand produced 355,515 t in 2024, 0.25% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does New Zealand rank in the world for production of barley?
New Zealand ranked 42nd of 100 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Russia with 11.7% of the world total.
How has the production of barley in New Zealand changed?
It fell by 12% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −1.7% for the world. The record was 644,369 t in 1985.
What is the yield of barley in New Zealand?
7.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (355,515 t from 46,155 ha), against a world average of 3.2 t/ha.
Does New Zealand export or import barley?
In 2024 New Zealand reported exports of 26 t (USD 40,000) and imports of 3,279 t (USD 989,000), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.