> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/barley/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# 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.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/barley/)[Market prices in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/country/south-africa/)

Production, 2024374,000 t
World rank41 of 100
10-year change+24%
Record588,000 t2020

## Barley in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.26%0.21% in 2014
Yield, t/ha3.7world 3.2 (+15%)
kg per person5.84world 17.4
10-year change+24%world −1.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 39 | [Serbia](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/serbia/) | 518,761 | 0.37% |
| 40 | [Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/brazil/) | 427,956 | 0.30% |
| 41 | **South Africa** | 374,000 | 0.26% |
| 42 | [New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/new-zealand/) | 355,515 | 0.25% |
| 43 | [Greece](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/greece/) | 333,170 | 0.23% |

[Full ranking of 100 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/)

### Map of world production of barley

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
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

Exports8,987 t USD 4.3 m
Exporter rank40 of 79
Imports124,105 t USD 29.8 m
Importer rank35 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](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/)

## 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

[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/russia/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/australia/)[Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/germany/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/france/)[Canada](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/canada/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/turkey/)[Spain](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/spain/)[United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/united-kingdom/)[Ukraine](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/ukraine/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/argentina/)[Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/iran/)[Kazakhstan](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/kazakhstan/)
[All countries producing barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/)

## Other products of South Africa

[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/south-africa/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/south-africa/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/south-africa/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/south-africa/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/south-africa/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/south-africa/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/south-africa/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/south-africa/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/south-africa/)[Soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/south-africa/)[Oranges](https://husfarm.com/production/oranges/south-africa/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/south-africa/)
[Agricultural production in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/country/south-africa/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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