All citrus fruit production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 3.6 million t of all citrus fruit, the 12th largest in the world (2.19% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 33%. This is the highest figure on record. Area harvested: 110,653 ha, yield 32.7 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 3.6 million t
- World rank
- 12 of 136
- 10-year change
- +33%
- Record
- 3.6 million t
- 2024
All citrus fruit in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 2.2%
- 1.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 32.7
- world 15.6 (+110%)
- kg per person
- 56.6
- world 20.3
- 10-year change
- +33%
- world +18%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Iran | 4,082,112 | 2.5% |
| 11 | Argentina | 3,726,021 | 2.2% |
| 12 | South Africa | 3,623,219 | 2.2% |
| 13 | Vietnam | 3,139,837 | 1.9% |
| 14 | Italy | 3,098,210 | 1.9% |
Map of world production of citrus fruit
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 | 3,623,219 | +1.6% | 110,653 | 32.74 |
| 2023 | 3,567,108 | −0.9% | 110,959 | 32.15 |
| 2022 | 3,598,043 | +12% | 110,827 | 32.47 |
| 2021 | 3,223,801 | +8.7% | 98,478 | 32.74 |
| 2020 | 2,964,993 | +0.1% | 92,050 | 32.21 |
| 2019 | 2,960,681 | −1.8% | 88,856 | 33.32 |
| 2018 | 3,014,186 | +21% | 90,291 | 33.38 |
| 2017 | 2,481,280 | +13% | 76,072 | 32.62 |
| 2016 | 2,194,323 | −19% | 66,115 | 33.19 |
| 2015 | 2,698,655 | −1.0% | 79,273 | 34.04 |
| 2014 | 2,727,142 | +1.4% | 79,624 | 34.25 |
| 2013 | 2,690,595 | +14% | 81,072 | 33.19 |
| 2012 | 2,370,309 | +1.0% | 72,850 | 32.54 |
| 2011 | 2,347,350 | +10% | 74,568 | 31.48 |
| 2010 | 2,133,085 | −0.1% | 69,453 | 30.71 |
| 2009 | 2,135,620 | −4.8% | 69,496 | 30.73 |
| 2008 | 2,244,240 | +5.0% | 71,446 | 31.41 |
| 2007 | 2,136,359 | +3.9% | 68,244 | 31.30 |
| 2006 | 2,057,111 | +6.1% | 66,929 | 30.74 |
| 2005 | 1,939,060 | +10% | 68,234 | 28.42 |
| 2004 | 1,761,922 | −10% | 70,476 | 25.00 |
| 2003 | 1,961,554 | +7.0% | 75,470 | 25.99 |
| 2002 | 1,833,502 | −4.7% | 72,542 | 25.28 |
| 2001 | 1,924,201 | +11% | 77,705 | 24.76 |
| 2000 | 1,727,660 | +7.1% | 69,151 | 24.98 |
| 1999 | 1,613,346 | +18% | 65,394 | 24.67 |
| 1998 | 1,365,174 | +4.2% | 61,055 | 22.36 |
| 1997 | 1,309,581 | +5.8% | 56,990 | 22.98 |
| 1996 | 1,238,067 | +22% | 55,724 | 22.22 |
| 1995 | 1,012,628 | −9.8% | 47,234 | 21.44 |
| 1994 | 1,122,148 | +14% | 49,408 | 22.71 |
| 1993 | 982,969 | +1.2% | 47,443 | 20.72 |
| 1992 | 971,010 | +3.4% | 44,504 | 21.82 |
| 1991 | 938,813 | −4.9% | 43,480 | 21.59 |
| 1990 | 986,774 | +1.9% | 46,332 | 21.30 |
| 1989 | 968,609 | +3.3% | 46,240 | 20.95 |
| 1988 | 937,413 | +10% | 44,990 | 20.84 |
| 1987 | 850,663 | +17% | 39,790 | 21.38 |
| 1986 | 729,710 | +2.4% | 35,740 | 20.42 |
| 1985 | 712,337 | +14% | 35,740 | 19.93 |
| 1984 | 622,399 | −2.1% | 32,150 | 19.36 |
| 1983 | 635,595 | −5.2% | 33,150 | 19.17 |
| 1982 | 670,787 | −14% | 33,150 | 20.23 |
| 1981 | 780,688 | +7.5% | 35,250 | 22.15 |
| 1980 | 726,558 | +0.1% | 35,050 | 20.73 |
| 1979 | 726,163 | −3.4% | 34,700 | 20.93 |
| 1978 | 751,524 | +17% | 34,500 | 21.78 |
| 1977 | 644,105 | −12% | 33,800 | 19.06 |
| 1976 | 733,379 | +7.9% | 33,700 | 21.76 |
| 1975 | 679,689 | −9.3% | 33,300 | 20.41 |
| 1974 | 749,226 | +12% | 34,300 | 21.84 |
| 1973 | 666,027 | −7.5% | 33,600 | 19.82 |
| 1972 | 720,038 | +20% | 33,800 | 21.30 |
| 1971 | 599,029 | −4.0% | 33,200 | 18.04 |
| 1970 | 624,283 | +5.6% | 32,700 | 19.09 |
| 1969 | 591,387 | −3.2% | 32,000 | 18.48 |
| 1968 | 610,807 | −0.5% | 31,500 | 19.39 |
| 1967 | 613,666 | +15% | 31,700 | 19.36 |
| 1966 | 534,594 | +0.9% | 30,200 | 17.70 |
| 1965 | 530,022 | −4.3% | 30,000 | 17.67 |
| 1964 | 553,695 | +5.5% | 29,800 | 18.58 |
| 1963 | 524,921 | +1.4% | 30,000 | 17.50 |
| 1962 | 517,596 | +11% | 29,800 | 17.37 |
| 1961 | 467,667 | — | 28,900 | 16.18 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of citrus fruit in South Africa?
South Africa produced 3.6 million t in 2024, 2.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of citrus fruit?
South Africa ranked 12th of 136 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 28.8% of the world total.
How has the production of citrus fruit in South Africa changed?
It rose by 33% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +18% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
What is the yield of citrus fruit in South Africa?
32.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (3.6 million t from 110,653 ha), against a world average of 15.6 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.