> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Pigs](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# 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.

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

Animals, 20241.3 million head
World rank59 of 171
10-year change−16%
Record1.7 million head2002

## Pigs in South Africa, 1961–2024 (head)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.14%0.16% in 2014
10-year change−16%world −2.8%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 57 | [Czechia](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/czechia/) | 1,421,820 | 0.15% |
| 58 | [Sweden](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/sweden/) | 1,360,460 | 0.14% |
| 59 | **South Africa** | 1,315,727 | 0.14% |
| 60 | [Switzerland](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/switzerland/) | 1,274,949 | 0.13% |
| 61 | [Malaysia](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/malaysia/) | 1,234,242 | 0.13% |

[Full ranking of 171 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/)

### Map of pigs numbers by country

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 | 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

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/china/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/united-states/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/brazil/)[Spain](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/spain/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/russia/)[Vietnam](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/vietnam/)[Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/germany/)[Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/mexico/)[Canada](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/canada/)[Malawi](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/malawi/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/france/)[Denmark](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/denmark/)
[All countries producing pigs](https://husfarm.com/production/pigs/)

## 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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