FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Maize production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 12.9 million t of maize, the 12th largest in the world (1.05% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 9.8%. The record was 17.6 million t in 2017. Area harvested: 2.6 million ha, yield 4.9 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 12.9 million t
- World rank
- 12 of 162
- 10-year change
- −9.8%
- Record
- 17.6 million t
- 2017
Maize in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,850,000 | −22% | 2,636,250 | 4.87 |
| 2023 | 16,430,000 | +6.2% | 2,586,100 | 6.35 |
| 2022 | 15,470,000 | −5.2% | 2,623,000 | 5.90 |
| 2021 | 16,315,000 | +3.0% | 2,755,400 | 5.92 |
| 2020 | 15,843,545 | +34% | 2,908,260 | 5.45 |
| 2019 | 11,824,180 | −9.8% | 2,596,500 | 4.55 |
| 2018 | 13,103,975 | −25% | 2,633,685 | 4.98 |
| 2017 | 17,551,000 | +114% | 2,995,250 | 5.86 |
| 2016 | 8,214,240 | −23% | 2,212,880 | 3.71 |
| 2015 | 10,628,800 | −25% | 3,048,050 | 3.49 |
| 2014 | 14,250,000 | +21% | 2,688,200 | 5.30 |
| 2013 | 11,810,600 | −2.6% | 2,781,200 | 4.25 |
| 2012 | 12,120,656 | +17% | 2,699,200 | 4.49 |
| 2011 | 10,360,000 | −19% | 2,372,300 | 4.37 |
| 2010 | 12,815,000 | +6.3% | 2,742,000 | 4.67 |
| 2009 | 12,050,000 | −5.1% | 2,427,500 | 4.96 |
| 2008 | 12,700,000 | +78% | 2,799,000 | 4.54 |
| 2007 | 7,125,000 | +2.7% | 2,551,800 | 2.79 |
| 2006 | 6,935,056 | −41% | 2,032,446 | 3.41 |
| 2005 | 11,715,948 | +21% | 3,223,000 | 3.64 |
| 2004 | 9,710,070 | +0.1% | 3,204,110 | 3.03 |
| 2003 | 9,705,000 | −3.7% | 3,650,904 | 2.66 |
| 2002 | 10,076,000 | +30% | 3,533,459 | 2.85 |
| 2001 | 7,772,000 | −32% | 3,189,000 | 2.44 |
| 2000 | 11,431,183 | +44% | 4,012,000 | 2.85 |
| 1999 | 7,946,000 | +3.3% | 3,567,383 | 2.23 |
| 1998 | 7,693,000 | −24% | 3,559,750 | 2.16 |
| 1997 | 10,136,000 | −0.3% | 4,023,060 | 2.52 |
| 1996 | 10,171,000 | +109% | 3,761,000 | 2.70 |
| 1995 | 4,866,000 | −63% | 3,526,000 | 1.38 |
| 1994 | 13,275,000 | +33% | 4,661,000 | 2.85 |
| 1993 | 9,997,000 | +205% | 4,377,000 | 2.28 |
| 1992 | 3,277,000 | −62% | 4,173,000 | 0.79 |
| 1991 | 8,614,000 | −6.2% | 3,816,000 | 2.26 |
| 1990 | 9,180,000 | −26% | 4,163,000 | 2.21 |
| 1989 | 12,481,000 | +63% | 4,394,000 | 2.84 |
| 1988 | 7,670,000 | −2.8% | 4,736,000 | 1.62 |
| 1987 | 7,890,000 | −8.3% | 5,063,000 | 1.56 |
| 1986 | 8,600,000 | +1.8% | 4,829,000 | 1.78 |
| 1985 | 8,444,000 | +76% | 4,502,000 | 1.88 |
| 1984 | 4,797,000 | +9.0% | 4,839,000 | 0.99 |
| 1983 | 4,399,000 | −50% | 4,680,000 | 0.94 |
| 1982 | 8,781,000 | −41% | 4,664,000 | 1.88 |
| 1981 | 14,872,000 | +35% | 4,488,000 | 3.31 |
| 1980 | 11,040,000 | +30% | 4,563,000 | 2.42 |
| 1979 | 8,475,000 | −17% | 4,566,000 | 1.86 |
| 1978 | 10,205,000 | +4.2% | 4,412,000 | 2.31 |
| 1977 | 9,793,000 | +30% | 4,706,000 | 2.08 |
| 1976 | 7,518,000 | −18% | 4,989,000 | 1.51 |
| 1975 | 9,139,000 | −18% | 4,792,000 | 1.91 |
| 1974 | 11,083,000 | +164% | 4,820,000 | 2.30 |
| 1973 | 4,202,000 | −56% | 3,975,000 | 1.06 |
| 1972 | 9,525,000 | +10% | 4,968,000 | 1.92 |
| 1971 | 8,644,000 | +40% | 4,796,000 | 1.80 |
| 1970 | 6,179,000 | +15% | 4,418,000 | 1.40 |
| 1969 | 5,378,000 | +0.4% | 4,387,000 | 1.23 |
| 1968 | 5,358,000 | −45% | 4,728,000 | 1.13 |
| 1967 | 9,802,000 | +90% | 4,589,000 | 2.14 |
| 1966 | 5,161,000 | +12% | 4,241,000 | 1.22 |
| 1965 | 4,608,000 | +6.9% | 4,290,000 | 1.07 |
| 1964 | 4,310,000 | −30% | 4,433,000 | 0.97 |
| 1963 | 6,127,000 | +1.7% | 4,339,000 | 1.41 |
| 1962 | 6,024,000 | +14% | 4,341,000 | 1.39 |
| 1961 | 5,293,000 | — | 4,118,000 | 1.29 |
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.