All cereals production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 15.3 million t of all cereals, the 32nd largest in the world (0.49% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 7.8%. The record was 19.6 million t in 2017. Area harvested: 3.4 million ha, yield 4.6 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 15.3 million t
- World rank
- 32 of 177
- 10-year change
- −7.8%
- Record
- 19.6 million t
- 2017
All cereals in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.49%
- 0.59% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 4.6
- world 4.2 (+8.5%)
- kg per person
- 239
- world 384
- 10-year change
- −7.8%
- world +11%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Cambodia | 15,580,000 | 0.50% |
| 31 | Tanzania | 15,468,111 | 0.49% |
| 32 | South Africa | 15,313,961 | 0.49% |
| 33 | Italy | 14,135,940 | 0.45% |
| 34 | Hungary | 12,689,330 | 0.40% |
Map of world production of cereals
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 | 15,313,961 | −19% | 3,356,840 | 4.56 |
| 2023 | 19,016,530 | +5.4% | 3,334,465 | 5.70 |
| 2022 | 18,036,975 | −6.2% | 3,396,540 | 5.31 |
| 2021 | 19,232,355 | +2.4% | 3,500,739 | 5.49 |
| 2020 | 18,790,412 | +35% | 3,669,269 | 5.12 |
| 2019 | 13,872,312 | −11% | 3,382,180 | 4.10 |
| 2018 | 15,565,750 | −21% | 3,346,083 | 4.65 |
| 2017 | 19,591,510 | +84% | 3,674,435 | 5.33 |
| 2016 | 10,629,626 | −16% | 2,933,838 | 3.62 |
| 2015 | 12,581,802 | −24% | 3,757,526 | 3.35 |
| 2014 | 16,617,349 | +17% | 3,391,603 | 4.90 |
| 2013 | 14,154,568 | −2.8% | 3,500,995 | 4.04 |
| 2012 | 14,556,168 | +13% | 3,430,267 | 4.24 |
| 2011 | 12,928,365 | −12% | 3,218,442 | 4.02 |
| 2010 | 14,700,931 | +0.9% | 3,542,031 | 4.15 |
| 2009 | 14,570,877 | −5.0% | 3,307,450 | 4.41 |
| 2008 | 15,339,478 | +61% | 3,775,240 | 4.06 |
| 2007 | 9,507,863 | +0.6% | 3,407,418 | 2.79 |
| 2006 | 9,452,300 | −33% | 3,009,317 | 3.14 |
| 2005 | 14,175,144 | +18% | 4,283,072 | 3.31 |
| 2004 | 12,026,899 | +1.8% | 4,329,495 | 2.78 |
| 2003 | 11,819,153 | −9.4% | 4,659,074 | 2.54 |
| 2002 | 13,048,225 | +22% | 4,706,204 | 2.77 |
| 2001 | 10,714,748 | −26% | 4,420,161 | 2.42 |
| 2000 | 14,549,009 | +45% | 5,260,171 | 2.77 |
| 1999 | 10,059,495 | −1.7% | 4,590,484 | 2.19 |
| 1998 | 10,232,323 | −23% | 4,690,000 | 2.18 |
| 1997 | 13,254,451 | −3.0% | 5,834,396 | 2.27 |
| 1996 | 13,670,070 | +82% | 5,489,640 | 2.49 |
| 1995 | 7,514,387 | −53% | 5,294,961 | 1.42 |
| 1994 | 15,985,688 | +25% | 6,184,004 | 2.59 |
| 1993 | 12,805,479 | +153% | 5,928,140 | 2.16 |
| 1992 | 5,056,342 | −55% | 5,352,315 | 0.94 |
| 1991 | 11,292,511 | −2.3% | 5,685,647 | 1.99 |
| 1990 | 11,558,395 | −25% | 6,156,932 | 1.88 |
| 1989 | 15,341,300 | +26% | 6,722,900 | 2.28 |
| 1988 | 12,140,142 | +0.4% | 7,262,900 | 1.67 |
| 1987 | 12,096,954 | +3.5% | 7,427,500 | 1.63 |
| 1986 | 11,691,051 | +5.7% | 7,355,500 | 1.59 |
| 1985 | 11,062,037 | +40% | 7,019,500 | 1.58 |
| 1984 | 7,927,492 | +19% | 7,314,000 | 1.08 |
| 1983 | 6,673,572 | −43% | 6,950,000 | 0.96 |
| 1982 | 11,762,871 | −35% | 7,087,000 | 1.66 |
| 1981 | 18,004,771 | +35% | 6,717,500 | 2.68 |
| 1980 | 13,377,880 | +19% | 6,631,630 | 2.02 |
| 1979 | 11,201,720 | −12% | 6,959,520 | 1.61 |
| 1978 | 12,755,400 | +3.7% | 6,798,620 | 1.88 |
| 1977 | 12,302,690 | +20% | 7,022,050 | 1.75 |
| 1976 | 10,273,015 | −11% | 7,382,900 | 1.39 |
| 1975 | 11,557,896 | −15% | 7,115,150 | 1.62 |
| 1974 | 13,579,863 | +110% | 7,239,600 | 1.88 |
| 1973 | 6,467,880 | −46% | 6,419,660 | 1.01 |
| 1972 | 11,950,910 | +8.4% | 7,497,800 | 1.59 |
| 1971 | 11,027,700 | +36% | 7,360,800 | 1.50 |
| 1970 | 8,137,697 | +15% | 6,855,800 | 1.19 |
| 1969 | 7,050,700 | +0.7% | 6,772,300 | 1.04 |
| 1968 | 7,003,409 | −41% | 6,961,300 | 1.01 |
| 1967 | 11,867,534 | +92% | 6,877,300 | 1.73 |
| 1966 | 6,183,711 | +5.8% | 6,120,300 | 1.01 |
| 1965 | 5,844,000 | +0.1% | 6,412,300 | 0.91 |
| 1964 | 5,838,900 | −22% | 6,389,300 | 0.91 |
| 1963 | 7,458,814 | +5.2% | 6,612,300 | 1.13 |
| 1962 | 7,089,341 | +5.9% | 6,207,500 | 1.14 |
| 1961 | 6,696,635 | — | 6,092,600 | 1.10 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of cereals in South Africa?
South Africa produced 15.3 million t in 2024, 0.49% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of cereals?
South Africa ranked 32nd of 177 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 20.8% of the world total.
How has the production of cereals in South Africa changed?
It fell by 7.8% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +11% for the world. The record was 19.6 million t in 2017.
What is the yield of cereals in South Africa?
4.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (15.3 million t from 3.4 million ha), against a world average of 4.2 t/ha.
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.