Cow peas, dry production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 4,530 t of cow peas, dry, the 28th largest in the world (0.04% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 7.5%. The record was 21,000 t in 1974. Area harvested: 10,390 ha, yield 0.4 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 4,530 t
- World rank
- 28 of 41
- 10-year change
- −7.5%
- Record
- 21,000 t
- 1974
Cow peas, dry in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.04%
- 0.08% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.4
- world 0.6 (−32%)
- kg per person
- 0.07
- world 1.24
- 10-year change
- −7.5%
- world +70%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | North Macedonia | 7,658 | 0.08% |
| 27 | Egypt | 7,268 | 0.07% |
| 28 | South Africa | 4,530 | 0.04% |
| 29 | Zimbabwe | 2,924 | 0.03% |
| 30 | Gambia | 2,881 | 0.03% |
Map of world production of cow peas, 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 | 4,530 | −0.4% | 10,390 | 0.44 |
| 2023 | 4,550 | −0.4% | 10,427 | 0.44 |
| 2022 | 4,570 | +0.2% | 10,464 | 0.44 |
| 2021 | 4,559 | +0.7% | 10,453 | 0.44 |
| 2020 | 4,529 | −1.1% | 10,403 | 0.44 |
| 2019 | 4,578 | −1.3% | 10,515 | 0.44 |
| 2018 | 4,636 | −1.3% | 10,622 | 0.44 |
| 2017 | 4,698 | −1.4% | 10,754 | 0.44 |
| 2016 | 4,766 | −1.3% | 10,888 | 0.44 |
| 2015 | 4,829 | −1.3% | 11,011 | 0.44 |
| 2014 | 4,895 | −2.1% | 11,185 | 0.44 |
| 2013 | 5,000 | 0.0% | 11,500 | 0.43 |
| 2012 | 5,000 | +8.7% | 11,500 | 0.43 |
| 2011 | 4,600 | −4.9% | 10,381 | 0.44 |
| 2010 | 4,837 | +0.7% | 10,890 | 0.44 |
| 2009 | 4,803 | +0.5% | 10,793 | 0.45 |
| 2008 | 4,780 | +1.5% | 10,723 | 0.45 |
| 2007 | 4,711 | −6.8% | 10,552 | 0.45 |
| 2006 | 5,057 | +5.0% | 11,308 | 0.45 |
| 2005 | 4,814 | −6.5% | 10,747 | 0.45 |
| 2004 | 5,148 | −4.7% | 11,471 | 0.45 |
| 2003 | 5,400 | −5.1% | 12,013 | 0.45 |
| 2002 | 5,691 | −6.6% | 12,637 | 0.45 |
| 2001 | 6,093 | −13% | 13,500 | 0.45 |
| 2000 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 15,463 | 0.45 |
| 1999 | 7,000 | +17% | 15,406 | 0.45 |
| 1998 | 6,000 | +20% | 13,145 | 0.46 |
| 1997 | 5,000 | −17% | 10,894 | 0.46 |
| 1996 | 6,000 | +3.4% | 13,000 | 0.46 |
| 1995 | 5,800 | −9.4% | 12,000 | 0.48 |
| 1994 | 6,400 | +3.2% | 13,656 | 0.47 |
| 1993 | 6,200 | +3.3% | 13,463 | 0.46 |
| 1992 | 6,000 | −1.3% | 13,155 | 0.46 |
| 1991 | 6,082 | −17% | 13,331 | 0.46 |
| 1990 | 7,353 | +13% | 14,138 | 0.52 |
| 1989 | 6,500 | +25% | 13,000 | 0.50 |
| 1988 | 5,200 | +16% | 13,000 | 0.40 |
| 1987 | 4,500 | +9.8% | 13,000 | 0.35 |
| 1986 | 4,100 | −34% | 12,000 | 0.34 |
| 1985 | 6,200 | +13% | 11,000 | 0.56 |
| 1984 | 5,500 | −15% | 13,000 | 0.42 |
| 1983 | 6,500 | −41% | 11,000 | 0.59 |
| 1982 | 11,100 | −38% | 14,000 | 0.79 |
| 1981 | 17,800 | +53% | 16,000 | 1.11 |
| 1980 | 11,600 | +23% | 11,000 | 1.05 |
| 1979 | 9,400 | −13% | 10,000 | 0.94 |
| 1978 | 10,800 | +3.8% | 12,000 | 0.90 |
| 1977 | 10,400 | +18% | 11,000 | 0.95 |
| 1976 | 8,800 | −14% | 10,000 | 0.88 |
| 1975 | 10,200 | −51% | 11,000 | 0.93 |
| 1974 | 21,000 | +121% | 16,000 | 1.31 |
| 1973 | 9,500 | −50% | 16,000 | 0.59 |
| 1972 | 18,900 | +31% | 16,000 | 1.18 |
| 1971 | 14,400 | +40% | 13,000 | 1.11 |
| 1970 | 10,300 | −46% | 13,000 | 0.79 |
| 1969 | 19,100 | +40% | 18,000 | 1.06 |
| 1968 | 13,600 | −11% | 16,000 | 0.85 |
| 1967 | 15,300 | +59% | 19,000 | 0.81 |
| 1966 | 9,600 | +1.1% | 13,000 | 0.74 |
| 1965 | 9,500 | +22% | 19,000 | 0.50 |
| 1964 | 7,800 | −7.1% | 19,000 | 0.41 |
| 1963 | 8,400 | +11% | 19,000 | 0.44 |
| 1962 | 7,600 | −52% | 17,000 | 0.45 |
| 1961 | 15,800 | — | 25,500 | 0.62 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 1,668 t USD 3.4 m
- Exporter rank
- 11 of 56
- Imports
- 1,774 t USD 948,000
- Importer rank
- 18 of 101
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 cow peas, dry in South Africa?
South Africa produced 4,530 t in 2024, 0.04% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of cow peas, dry?
South Africa ranked 28th of 41 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Nigeria with 42.4% of the world total.
How has the production of cow peas, dry in South Africa changed?
It fell by 7.5% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +70% for the world. The record was 21,000 t in 1974.
What is the yield of cow peas, dry in South Africa?
0.4 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (4,530 t from 10,390 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import cow peas, dry?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 1,668 t (USD 3.4 m) and imports of 1,774 t (USD 948,000), 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 imputed 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.