FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Cow milk production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 3.9 million t of cow milk, the 33rd largest in the world (0.49% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 16%. This is the highest figure on record.
- Production, 2024
- 3.9 million t
- World rank
- 33 of 183
- 10-year change
- +16%
- Record
- 3.9 million t
- 2024
Cow milk in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,883,000 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 3,810,000 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 3,764,000 | −1.6% |
| 2021 | 3,825,000 | −0.7% |
| 2020 | 3,853,000 | −0.5% |
| 2019 | 3,873,000 | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 3,752,610 | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 3,642,780 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 3,548,828 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 3,538,435 | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 3,337,018 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 3,260,291 | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 3,214,000 | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 3,107,000 | −0.5% |
| 2010 | 3,123,000 | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 2,997,000 | −1.5% |
| 2008 | 3,042,000 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 2,988,000 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 2,950,000 | −3.1% |
| 2005 | 3,044,000 | +15% |
| 2004 | 2,640,000 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 2,591,000 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 2,507,000 | −6.1% |
| 2001 | 2,670,000 | +16% |
| 2000 | 2,306,000 | −23% |
| 1999 | 2,996,000 | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 2,851,000 | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 2,638,000 | −7.1% |
| 1996 | 2,840,000 | +8.2% |
| 1995 | 2,624,000 | +10.0% |
| 1994 | 2,386,000 | −2.2% |
| 1993 | 2,439,000 | −2.7% |
| 1992 | 2,506,000 | −7.4% |
| 1991 | 2,705,000 | +9.3% |
| 1990 | 2,475,000 | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 2,350,000 | 0.0% |
| 1988 | 2,350,000 | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 2,300,000 | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 2,200,000 | 0.0% |
| 1985 | 2,200,000 | −8.3% |
| 1984 | 2,400,000 | −5.9% |
| 1983 | 2,550,000 | 0.0% |
| 1982 | 2,550,000 | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 2,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 1980 | 2,500,000 | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 2,450,000 | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 2,370,000 | −6.3% |
| 1977 | 2,529,000 | −0.4% |
| 1976 | 2,539,000 | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 2,500,000 | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 2,478,000 | −11% |
| 1973 | 2,792,000 | −3.2% |
| 1972 | 2,885,000 | +7.4% |
| 1971 | 2,687,000 | −7.7% |
| 1970 | 2,912,000 | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 2,850,000 | −3.4% |
| 1968 | 2,950,000 | +6.1% |
| 1967 | 2,780,000 | +9.3% |
| 1966 | 2,544,000 | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 2,530,000 | +20% |
| 1964 | 2,115,000 | −12% |
| 1963 | 2,417,000 | −3.5% |
| 1962 | 2,503,731 | −2.1% |
| 1961 | 2,557,162 | — |
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.