FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Beef (cattle meat) production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 1.1 million t of beef (cattle meat), the 13th largest in the world (1.58% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 10%. This is the highest figure on record.
- Production, 2024
- 1.1 million t
- World rank
- 13 of 189
- 10-year change
- +10%
- Record
- 1.1 million t
- 2024
Beef (cattle meat) in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,101,970 | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 1,032,360 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 1,008,270 | −4.3% |
| 2021 | 1,053,160 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 1,041,360 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 1,036,820 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 1,003,214 | −1.1% |
| 2017 | 1,014,071 | −6.9% |
| 2016 | 1,089,686 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 1,072,800 | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 1,000,659 | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 953,107 | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 875,000 | −0.3% |
| 2011 | 878,000 | −2.1% |
| 2010 | 897,000 | +12% |
| 2009 | 803,000 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 798,000 | −3.7% |
| 2007 | 829,000 | −0.4% |
| 2006 | 832,000 | +12% |
| 2005 | 746,000 | +9.2% |
| 2004 | 683,000 | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 635,000 | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 579,000 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 572,000 | −1.7% |
| 2000 | 582,000 | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 558,000 | +6.9% |
| 1998 | 522,000 | −34% |
| 1997 | 789,000 | +64% |
| 1996 | 480,000 | −8.2% |
| 1995 | 523,000 | −6.1% |
| 1994 | 557,000 | −15% |
| 1993 | 658,000 | −8.7% |
| 1992 | 720,500 | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 681,000 | +12% |
| 1990 | 609,000 | +12% |
| 1989 | 542,000 | −0.6% |
| 1988 | 545,000 | −8.6% |
| 1987 | 596,000 | −1.3% |
| 1986 | 604,000 | −7.1% |
| 1985 | 650,000 | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 620,000 | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 588,000 | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 582,000 | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 542,000 | −7.3% |
| 1980 | 584,678 | −8.9% |
| 1979 | 642,044 | +9.1% |
| 1978 | 588,683 | +8.3% |
| 1977 | 543,690 | +6.9% |
| 1976 | 508,549 | −1.3% |
| 1975 | 515,035 | −2.3% |
| 1974 | 527,036 | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 488,394 | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 466,552 | +12% |
| 1971 | 415,957 | +7.2% |
| 1970 | 388,176 | −0.5% |
| 1969 | 390,000 | +9.9% |
| 1968 | 355,000 | −6.1% |
| 1967 | 378,000 | −12% |
| 1966 | 430,000 | −4.4% |
| 1965 | 450,000 | −0.7% |
| 1964 | 453,000 | +5.6% |
| 1963 | 429,000 | +9.7% |
| 1962 | 391,154 | +0.2% |
| 1961 | 390,310 | — |
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.