Oats production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 42,800 t of oats, the 38th largest in the world (0.19% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 104%. The record was 169,000 t in 1967. Area harvested: 31,000 ha, yield 1.4 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 42,800 t
- World rank
- 38 of 74
- 10-year change
- +104%
- Record
- 169,000 t
- 1967
Oats in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.19%
- 0.09% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.4
- world 2.6 (−47%)
- kg per person
- 0.67
- world 2.75
- 10-year change
- +104%
- world −2.2%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Croatia | 54,940 | 0.24% |
| 37 | Ethiopia | 53,443 | 0.24% |
| 38 | South Africa | 42,800 | 0.19% |
| 39 | Serbia | 42,239 | 0.19% |
| 40 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 40,611 | 0.18% |
Map of world production of oats
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 | 42,800 | +4.4% | 31,000 | 1.38 |
| 2023 | 41,000 | +49% | 27,500 | 1.49 |
| 2022 | 27,550 | −53% | 27,000 | 1.02 |
| 2021 | 59,000 | +3.5% | 36,250 | 1.63 |
| 2020 | 57,000 | +245% | 26,200 | 2.18 |
| 2019 | 16,500 | −50% | 21,000 | 0.79 |
| 2018 | 32,700 | +42% | 19,235 | 1.70 |
| 2017 | 22,975 | −59% | 13,920 | 1.65 |
| 2016 | 55,589 | +51% | 34,139 | 1.63 |
| 2015 | 36,837 | +75% | 22,917 | 1.61 |
| 2014 | 21,000 | −25% | 12,758 | 1.65 |
| 2013 | 28,000 | −51% | 15,853 | 1.77 |
| 2012 | 57,000 | −14% | 33,087 | 1.72 |
| 2011 | 66,000 | +94% | 39,070 | 1.69 |
| 2010 | 34,000 | −8.1% | 20,505 | 1.66 |
| 2009 | 37,000 | +37% | 23,000 | 1.61 |
| 2008 | 27,000 | −36% | 17,000 | 1.59 |
| 2007 | 42,000 | −3.4% | 26,500 | 1.58 |
| 2006 | 43,500 | +28% | 28,000 | 1.55 |
| 2005 | 34,000 | −8.1% | 22,808 | 1.49 |
| 2004 | 37,000 | +12% | 25,833 | 1.43 |
| 2003 | 33,000 | −43% | 25,000 | 1.32 |
| 2002 | 58,217 | +15% | 30,000 | 1.94 |
| 2001 | 50,640 | +53% | 28,000 | 1.81 |
| 2000 | 33,000 | +47% | 25,000 | 1.32 |
| 1999 | 22,394 | −12% | 22,000 | 1.02 |
| 1998 | 25,308 | −16% | 25,000 | 1.01 |
| 1997 | 30,000 | −9.1% | 30,000 | 1.00 |
| 1996 | 33,000 | −13% | 25,000 | 1.32 |
| 1995 | 38,000 | +2.7% | 28,000 | 1.36 |
| 1994 | 37,000 | −21% | 25,000 | 1.48 |
| 1993 | 47,000 | +4.4% | 35,625 | 1.32 |
| 1992 | 45,000 | +15% | 35,000 | 1.29 |
| 1991 | 39,000 | −7.1% | 32,365 | 1.21 |
| 1990 | 42,000 | 0.0% | 27,474 | 1.53 |
| 1989 | 42,000 | −2.3% | 30,000 | 1.40 |
| 1988 | 43,000 | −36% | 35,000 | 1.23 |
| 1987 | 67,000 | +56% | 50,000 | 1.34 |
| 1986 | 43,000 | +258% | 35,000 | 1.23 |
| 1985 | 12,000 | −85% | 15,000 | 0.80 |
| 1984 | 81,000 | −2.4% | 55,000 | 1.47 |
| 1983 | 83,000 | −9.8% | 55,000 | 1.51 |
| 1982 | 92,000 | +12% | 60,000 | 1.53 |
| 1981 | 82,000 | +26% | 55,000 | 1.49 |
| 1980 | 65,000 | −25% | 45,000 | 1.44 |
| 1979 | 87,000 | +26% | 60,000 | 1.45 |
| 1978 | 69,000 | −9.2% | 50,000 | 1.38 |
| 1977 | 76,000 | −19% | 60,000 | 1.27 |
| 1976 | 94,000 | −13% | 70,000 | 1.34 |
| 1975 | 108,000 | −6.1% | 80,000 | 1.35 |
| 1974 | 115,000 | +3.6% | 80,000 | 1.44 |
| 1973 | 111,000 | +5.7% | 80,000 | 1.39 |
| 1972 | 105,000 | +7.1% | 75,000 | 1.40 |
| 1971 | 98,000 | −19% | 70,000 | 1.40 |
| 1970 | 121,000 | +34% | 80,000 | 1.51 |
| 1969 | 90,000 | −22% | 70,000 | 1.29 |
| 1968 | 115,000 | −32% | 70,000 | 1.64 |
| 1967 | 169,000 | +92% | 100,000 | 1.69 |
| 1966 | 88,000 | −5.4% | 60,000 | 1.47 |
| 1965 | 93,000 | −23% | 60,000 | 1.55 |
| 1964 | 120,000 | +15% | 80,000 | 1.50 |
| 1963 | 104,000 | +5.1% | 80,000 | 1.30 |
| 1962 | 99,000 | −16% | 70,000 | 1.41 |
| 1961 | 118,183 | — | 80,000 | 1.48 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 771 t USD 876,000
- Exporter rank
- 41 of 73
- Imports
- 39,744 t USD 9.9 m
- Importer rank
- 16 of 139
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 oats in South Africa?
South Africa produced 42,800 t in 2024, 0.19% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of oats?
South Africa ranked 38th of 74 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Canada with 15.0% of the world total.
How has the production of oats in South Africa changed?
It rose by 104% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −2.2% for the world. The record was 169,000 t in 1967.
What is the yield of oats in South Africa?
1.4 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (42,800 t from 31,000 ha), against a world average of 2.6 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import oats?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 771 t (USD 876,000) and imports of 39,744 t (USD 9.9 m), 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. 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.