Pigs in South Africa
South Africa had 1.3 million pigs in 2024, the 59th largest in the world (0.14% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 16%. The record was 1.7 million head in 2002.
- Animals, 2024
- 1.3 million head
- World rank
- 59 of 171
- 10-year change
- −16%
- Record
- 1.7 million head
- 2002
Pigs in South Africa, 1961–2024 (head)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.14%
- 0.16% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −16%
- world −2.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | Czechia | 1,421,820 | 0.15% |
| 58 | Sweden | 1,360,460 | 0.14% |
| 59 | South Africa | 1,315,727 | 0.14% |
| 60 | Switzerland | 1,274,949 | 0.13% |
| 61 | Malaysia | 1,234,242 | 0.13% |
Map of pigs numbers by country
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,315,727 | −0.4% |
| 2023 | 1,321,219 | −0.2% |
| 2022 | 1,323,370 | −1.6% |
| 2021 | 1,344,307 | −0.9% |
| 2020 | 1,356,892 | −2.4% |
| 2019 | 1,389,659 | −4.4% |
| 2018 | 1,453,612 | −1.8% |
| 2017 | 1,480,839 | −2.1% |
| 2016 | 1,512,453 | −0.7% |
| 2015 | 1,522,714 | −2.5% |
| 2014 | 1,562,422 | −0.7% |
| 2013 | 1,573,701 | −0.3% |
| 2012 | 1,579,000 | −0.3% |
| 2011 | 1,583,574 | −0.7% |
| 2010 | 1,594,494 | −1.2% |
| 2009 | 1,613,385 | −0.1% |
| 2008 | 1,614,748 | −2.2% |
| 2007 | 1,651,394 | −0.7% |
| 2006 | 1,662,259 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 1,656,000 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 1,651,000 | −0.7% |
| 2003 | 1,662,000 | −0.1% |
| 2002 | 1,663,000 | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 1,592,000 | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 1,555,595 | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 1,530,899 | −6.7% |
| 1998 | 1,641,050 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 1,617,404 | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 1,602,578 | −1.6% |
| 1995 | 1,627,985 | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 1,511,120 | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 1,492,660 | −2.4% |
| 1992 | 1,529,010 | −0.6% |
| 1991 | 1,539,000 | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 1,532,000 | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 1,524,000 | +6.8% |
| 1988 | 1,427,000 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 1,360,000 | −0.4% |
| 1986 | 1,366,000 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 1,361,000 | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 1,346,000 | −8.9% |
| 1983 | 1,478,000 | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 1,401,000 | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 1,348,000 | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 1,318,000 | −2.5% |
| 1979 | 1,352,000 | −8.0% |
| 1978 | 1,470,000 | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 1,388,000 | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 1,340,000 | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 1,323,000 | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 1,310,000 | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 1,309,000 | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 1,252,000 | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 1,205,000 | −12% |
| 1970 | 1,364,000 | −4.9% |
| 1969 | 1,435,000 | +7.1% |
| 1968 | 1,339,888 | +6.7% |
| 1967 | 1,255,513 | −1.9% |
| 1966 | 1,280,000 | −8.6% |
| 1965 | 1,400,000 | −3.4% |
| 1964 | 1,450,000 | −1.4% |
| 1963 | 1,470,000 | −2.0% |
| 1962 | 1,500,000 | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 1,492,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many pigs are there in South Africa?
South Africa had 1.3 million pigs in 2024, 0.14% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world by number of pigs?
South Africa ranked 59th of 171 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in China with 44.4% of the world total.
How has the number of pigs in South Africa changed?
It fell by 16% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −2.8% for the world. The record was 1.7 million head in 2002.
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.