Barley production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 374,000 t of barley, the 41st largest in the world (0.26% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 24%. The record was 588,000 t in 2020. Area harvested: 100,700 ha, yield 3.7 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 374,000 t
- World rank
- 41 of 100
- 10-year change
- +24%
- Record
- 588,000 t
- 2020
Barley in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.26%
- 0.21% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 3.7
- world 3.2 (+15%)
- kg per person
- 5.84
- world 17.4
- 10-year change
- +24%
- world −1.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Serbia | 518,761 | 0.37% |
| 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% |
Map of world production of barley
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 374,000 | −0.8% | 100,700 | 3.71 |
| 2023 | 377,000 | +25% | 107,600 | 3.50 |
| 2022 | 302,000 | −9.6% | 101,000 | 2.99 |
| 2021 | 334,000 | −43% | 94,730 | 3.53 |
| 2020 | 588,000 | +70% | 141,690 | 4.15 |
| 2019 | 345,000 | −18% | 131,960 | 2.61 |
| 2018 | 421,500 | +37% | 119,000 | 3.54 |
| 2017 | 307,000 | −14% | 91,380 | 3.36 |
| 2016 | 355,000 | +6.9% | 88,695 | 4.00 |
| 2015 | 332,000 | +9.9% | 93,730 | 3.54 |
| 2014 | 302,000 | +13% | 85,125 | 3.55 |
| 2013 | 267,500 | −10% | 81,320 | 3.29 |
| 2012 | 298,000 | −4.5% | 84,940 | 3.51 |
| 2011 | 312,000 | +61% | 80,150 | 3.89 |
| 2010 | 194,000 | −10% | 82,670 | 2.35 |
| 2009 | 216,000 | +13% | 74,760 | 2.89 |
| 2008 | 192,000 | −14% | 68,245 | 2.81 |
| 2007 | 222,500 | −5.7% | 73,360 | 3.03 |
| 2006 | 236,000 | +4.9% | 89,780 | 2.63 |
| 2005 | 225,000 | +22% | 90,000 | 2.50 |
| 2004 | 185,000 | −23% | 83,200 | 2.22 |
| 2003 | 240,000 | +31% | 84,220 | 2.85 |
| 2002 | 183,770 | +30% | 72,070 | 2.55 |
| 2001 | 141,100 | −0.9% | 73,160 | 1.93 |
| 2000 | 142,390 | +57% | 77,690 | 1.83 |
| 1999 | 90,800 | −58% | 101,700 | 0.89 |
| 1998 | 215,160 | +18% | 112,000 | 1.92 |
| 1997 | 182,000 | +3.4% | 132,000 | 1.38 |
| 1996 | 176,000 | −41% | 127,000 | 1.39 |
| 1995 | 300,000 | +9.1% | 125,000 | 2.40 |
| 1994 | 275,000 | +18% | 120,000 | 2.29 |
| 1993 | 233,000 | −13% | 116,000 | 2.01 |
| 1992 | 269,000 | +58% | 134,000 | 2.01 |
| 1991 | 170,000 | −35% | 135,000 | 1.26 |
| 1990 | 262,000 | −1.5% | 110,000 | 2.38 |
| 1989 | 266,000 | +111% | 97,000 | 2.74 |
| 1988 | 126,000 | −55% | 80,000 | 1.58 |
| 1987 | 280,000 | +41% | 100,000 | 2.80 |
| 1986 | 199,000 | −22% | 91,000 | 2.19 |
| 1985 | 256,000 | +48% | 101,000 | 2.53 |
| 1984 | 173,000 | +12% | 87,000 | 1.99 |
| 1983 | 154,000 | +40% | 79,000 | 1.95 |
| 1982 | 110,000 | +3.8% | 64,000 | 1.72 |
| 1981 | 106,000 | +77% | 69,000 | 1.54 |
| 1980 | 60,000 | −57% | 68,000 | 0.88 |
| 1979 | 141,000 | +4.4% | 107,000 | 1.32 |
| 1978 | 135,000 | +27% | 98,000 | 1.38 |
| 1977 | 106,000 | +45% | 90,000 | 1.18 |
| 1976 | 73,000 | +5.8% | 88,000 | 0.83 |
| 1975 | 69,000 | +9.5% | 74,000 | 0.93 |
| 1974 | 63,000 | +97% | 67,000 | 0.94 |
| 1973 | 32,000 | −3.0% | 61,000 | 0.52 |
| 1972 | 33,000 | +3.1% | 51,000 | 0.65 |
| 1971 | 32,000 | −3.0% | 46,000 | 0.70 |
| 1970 | 33,000 | +65% | 44,000 | 0.75 |
| 1969 | 20,000 | −46% | 58,000 | 0.34 |
| 1968 | 37,000 | −27% | 64,000 | 0.58 |
| 1967 | 51,000 | +34% | 78,000 | 0.65 |
| 1966 | 38,000 | +8.6% | 62,000 | 0.61 |
| 1965 | 35,000 | −26% | 70,000 | 0.50 |
| 1964 | 47,000 | +27% | 59,000 | 0.80 |
| 1963 | 37,000 | −14% | 70,000 | 0.53 |
| 1962 | 43,000 | +19% | 62,000 | 0.69 |
| 1961 | 36,000 | — | 58,000 | 0.62 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 8,987 t USD 4.3 m
- Exporter rank
- 40 of 79
- Imports
- 124,105 t USD 29.8 m
- Importer rank
- 35 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 South Africa?
South Africa produced 374,000 t in 2024, 0.26% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of barley?
South Africa ranked 41st of 100 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Russia with 11.7% of the world total.
How has the production of barley in South Africa changed?
It rose by 24% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −1.7% for the world. The record was 588,000 t in 2020.
What is the yield of barley in South Africa?
3.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (374,000 t from 100,700 ha), against a world average of 3.2 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import barley?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 8,987 t (USD 4.3 m) and imports of 124,105 t (USD 29.8 m), 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.