> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Cow peas, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# 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.

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

Production, 20244,530 t
World rank28 of 41
10-year change−7.5%
Record21,000 t1974

## Cow peas, dry in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.04%0.08% in 2014
Yield, t/ha0.4world 0.6 (−32%)
kg per person0.07world 1.24
10-year change−7.5%world +70%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 26 | [North Macedonia](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/north-macedonia/) | 7,658 | 0.08% |
| 27 | [Egypt](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/egypt/) | 7,268 | 0.07% |
| 28 | **South Africa** | 4,530 | 0.04% |
| 29 | [Zimbabwe](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/zimbabwe/) | 2,924 | 0.03% |
| 30 | [Gambia](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/gambia/) | 2,881 | 0.03% |

[Full ranking of 41 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/)

### Map of world production of cow peas, dry

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 | 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

Exports1,668 t USD 3.4 m
Exporter rank11 of 56
Imports1,774 t USD 948,000
Importer rank18 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](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/)

## 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

[Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/nigeria/)[Niger](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/niger/)[Burkina Faso](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/burkina-faso/)[Ghana](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/ghana/)[Cameroon](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/cameroon/)[Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/mali/)[Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/tanzania/)[Senegal](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/senegal/)[Benin](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/benin/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/sudan/)[Myanmar](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/myanmar/)[Yemen](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/yemen/)
[All countries producing cow peas, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/)

## 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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