Chillies and peppers, dry production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 17,990 t of chillies and peppers, dry, the 24th largest in the world (0.33% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 3.1%. The record was 18,175 t in 2020. Area harvested: 8,292 ha, yield 2.2 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 17,990 t
- World rank
- 24 of 56
- 10-year change
- +3.1%
- Record
- 18,175 t
- 2020
Chillies and peppers, dry in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.33%
- 0.48% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.2
- world 2.9 (−25%)
- kg per person
- 0.28
- world 0.67
- 10-year change
- +3.1%
- world +51%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Tunisia | 20,887 | 0.38% |
| 23 | Jamaica | 18,718 | 0.34% |
| 24 | South Africa | 17,990 | 0.33% |
| 25 | Turkey | 16,151 | 0.30% |
| 26 | Algeria | 15,112 | 0.28% |
Map of world production of chillies and peppers, dry
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 | 17,990 | −0.3% | 8,292 | 2.17 |
| 2023 | 18,036 | +0.1% | 8,327 | 2.17 |
| 2022 | 18,009 | +0.5% | 8,363 | 2.15 |
| 2021 | 17,924 | −1.4% | 8,427 | 2.13 |
| 2020 | 18,175 | +1.4% | 8,751 | 2.08 |
| 2019 | 17,927 | +1.4% | 8,447 | 2.12 |
| 2018 | 17,671 | +1.5% | 8,737 | 2.02 |
| 2017 | 17,411 | +1.9% | 9,068 | 1.92 |
| 2016 | 17,079 | +1.9% | 8,737 | 1.95 |
| 2015 | 16,764 | −3.9% | 8,405 | 1.99 |
| 2014 | 17,445 | +2.5% | 9,008 | 1.94 |
| 2013 | 17,026 | +3.2% | 8,797 | 1.94 |
| 2012 | 16,500 | +10% | 8,500 | 1.94 |
| 2011 | 15,000 | +19% | 8,000 | 1.88 |
| 2010 | 12,570 | +14% | 8,539 | 1.47 |
| 2009 | 11,000 | 0.0% | 10,000 | 1.10 |
| 2008 | 11,000 | 0.0% | 10,000 | 1.10 |
| 2007 | 11,000 | +0.5% | 10,000 | 1.10 |
| 2006 | 10,948 | +0.9% | 9,633 | 1.14 |
| 2005 | 10,853 | +1.9% | 9,555 | 1.14 |
| 2004 | 10,647 | +1.4% | 9,366 | 1.14 |
| 2003 | 10,505 | +1.5% | 9,175 | 1.14 |
| 2002 | 10,352 | +1.7% | 8,922 | 1.16 |
| 2001 | 10,177 | +1.8% | 8,652 | 1.18 |
| 2000 | 10,000 | +5.3% | 8,187 | 1.22 |
| 1999 | 9,500 | −1.6% | 7,650 | 1.24 |
| 1998 | 9,655 | −0.4% | 7,630 | 1.27 |
| 1997 | 9,697 | −0.6% | 7,530 | 1.29 |
| 1996 | 9,756 | −0.6% | 7,465 | 1.31 |
| 1995 | 9,810 | −0.0% | 7,414 | 1.32 |
| 1994 | 9,814 | −1.9% | 7,340 | 1.34 |
| 1993 | 10,000 | +14% | 7,300 | 1.37 |
| 1992 | 8,777 | +9.7% | 6,549 | 1.34 |
| 1991 | 8,000 | +11% | 6,000 | 1.33 |
| 1990 | 7,216 | +3.1% | 5,983 | 1.21 |
| 1989 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1988 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1987 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1986 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1985 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1984 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1983 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1982 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1981 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1980 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1979 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1978 | 7,000 | +2.9% | 5,800 | 1.21 |
| 1977 | 6,800 | +1.5% | 5,700 | 1.19 |
| 1976 | 6,700 | +1.5% | 5,700 | 1.18 |
| 1975 | 6,600 | +1.5% | 5,600 | 1.18 |
| 1974 | 6,500 | +3.2% | 5,600 | 1.16 |
| 1973 | 6,300 | +1.6% | 5,500 | 1.15 |
| 1972 | 6,200 | +3.3% | 5,500 | 1.13 |
| 1971 | 6,000 | +1.7% | 5,400 | 1.11 |
| 1970 | 5,900 | +3.5% | 5,400 | 1.09 |
| 1969 | 5,700 | +1.8% | 5,300 | 1.08 |
| 1968 | 5,600 | +3.7% | 5,200 | 1.08 |
| 1967 | 5,400 | +1.9% | 5,100 | 1.06 |
| 1966 | 5,300 | +1.9% | 5,000 | 1.06 |
| 1965 | 5,200 | +2.0% | 5,000 | 1.04 |
| 1964 | 5,100 | +2.0% | 4,900 | 1.04 |
| 1963 | 5,000 | +4.2% | 4,800 | 1.04 |
| 1962 | 4,800 | +2.1% | 4,700 | 1.02 |
| 1961 | 4,700 | — | 4,600 | 1.02 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 1,422 t USD 6.4 m
- Exporter rank
- 29 of 127
- Imports
- 14,023 t USD 27.7 m
- Importer rank
- 14 of 180
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
Questions and answers
What is the production of chillies and peppers, dry in South Africa?
South Africa produced 17,990 t in 2024, 0.33% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of chillies and peppers, dry?
South Africa ranked 24th of 56 countries in 2024. The largest producer was India with 53.3% of the world total.
How has the production of chillies and peppers, dry in South Africa changed?
It rose by 3.1% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +51% for the world. The record was 18,175 t in 2020.
What is the yield of chillies and peppers, dry in South Africa?
2.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (17,990 t from 8,292 ha), against a world average of 2.9 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import chillies and peppers, dry (capsicum spp., pimenta spp.), raw?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 1,422 t (USD 6.4 m) and imports of 14,023 t (USD 27.7 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; the 2024 figure for South Africa is estimated by FAO. 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.