> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[All cereals](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# 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.

[Market prices in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/country/south-africa/)

Production, 202415.3 million t
World rank32 of 177
10-year change−7.8%
Record19.6 million t2017

## All cereals in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.49%0.59% in 2014
Yield, t/ha4.6world 4.2 (+8.5%)
kg per person239world 384
10-year change−7.8%world +11%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 30 | [Cambodia](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/cambodia/) | 15,580,000 | 0.50% |
| 31 | [Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/tanzania/) | 15,468,111 | 0.49% |
| 32 | **South Africa** | 15,313,961 | 0.49% |
| 33 | [Italy](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/italy/) | 14,135,940 | 0.45% |
| 34 | [Hungary](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/hungary/) | 12,689,330 | 0.40% |

[Full ranking of 177 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/)

### Map of world production of cereals

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 | 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

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/china/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/united-states/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/india/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/brazil/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/russia/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/argentina/)[Indonesia](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/indonesia/)[Bangladesh](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/bangladesh/)[Canada](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/canada/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/pakistan/)[Ukraine](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/ukraine/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/france/)
[All countries producing all cereals](https://husfarm.com/production/cereals-total/)

## 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.

---
Husfarm: https://husfarm.com/ · Site guide for agents: https://husfarm.com/llms.txt