> South Africa had 175 million chickens in 2024, the 30th largest in the world (0.63% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 9.0%.

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

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# Chickens in South Africa

South Africa had 175 million chickens in 2024, the 30th largest in the world (0.63% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 9.0%. The record was 200 million head in 2011.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.

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

Animals, 2024175 million head
World rank30 of 179
10-year change+9.0%
Record200 million head2011

## Chickens in South Africa, 1961–2024 (head)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.63%0.76% in 2014
10-year change+9.0%world +31%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 28 | [Ecuador](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/ecuador/) | 180,296,000 | 0.65% |
| 29 | [South Korea](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/south-korea/) | 178,474,000 | 0.64% |
| 30 | **South Africa** | 175,199,000 | 0.63% |
| 31 | [Ukraine](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/ukraine/) | 173,725,000 | 0.63% |
| 32 | [Canada](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/canada/) | 173,164,000 | 0.63% |

[Full ranking of 179 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/)

### Map of chickens numbers by country

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 | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 175,199,000 | −0.0% |
| 2023 | 175,215,000 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 175,203,000 | −1.3% |
| 2021 | 177,561,000 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 177,524,000 | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 174,303,000 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 171,063,000 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 167,033,000 | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 163,870,000 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 162,000,000 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 160,700,000 | −0.6% |
| 2013 | 161,600,000 | −19% |
| 2012 | 200,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 200,000,000 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 197,000,000 | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 185,000,000 | +8.8% |
| 2008 | 170,000,000 | +21% |
| 2007 | 141,000,000 | +12% |
| 2006 | 125,840,000 | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 121,000,000 | −17% |
| 2004 | 145,000,000 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 144,000,000 | −2.7% |
| 2002 | 148,000,000 | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 138,000,000 | +9.5% |
| 2000 | 126,000,000 | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 119,000,000 | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 113,000,000 | −1.7% |
| 1997 | 115,000,000 | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 110,000,000 | +10% |
| 1995 | 100,000,000 | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 95,000,000 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 92,000,000 | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 88,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1991 | 88,000,000 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 87,000,000 | +98% |
| 1989 | 44,000,000 | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 42,000,000 | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 40,000,000 | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 38,000,000 | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 36,000,000 | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 34,000,000 | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 32,000,000 | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 31,500,000 | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 31,000,000 | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 30,000,000 | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 29,000,000 | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 28,000,000 | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 27,000,000 | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 26,000,000 | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 25,000,000 | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 24,600,000 | −27% |
| 1973 | 33,500,000 | +16% |
| 1972 | 29,000,000 | +12% |
| 1971 | 26,000,000 | +16% |
| 1970 | 22,500,000 | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 22,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1968 | 22,000,000 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 21,500,000 | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 21,000,000 | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 20,500,000 | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 20,000,000 | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 19,500,000 | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 19,000,000 | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 18,500,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many chickens are there in South Africa?

South Africa had 175 million chickens in 2024, 0.63% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does South Africa rank in the world by number of chickens?

South Africa ranked 30th of 179 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in China with 18.9% of the world total.

### How has the number of chickens in South Africa changed?

It rose by 9.0% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +31% for the world. The record was 200 million head in 2011.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for South Africa is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/china/)[Indonesia](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/indonesia/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/pakistan/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/brazil/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/united-states/)[Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/iran/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/india/)[Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/mexico/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/russia/)[Vietnam](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/vietnam/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/turkey/)[Bangladesh](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/bangladesh/)
[All countries producing chickens](https://husfarm.com/production/chickens/)

## 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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