Rye production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 1,957 t of rye, the 49th largest in the world (0.02% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 5.6%. The record was 15,000 t in 1964. Area harvested: 1,782 ha, yield 1.1 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 1,957 t
- World rank
- 49 of 62
- 10-year change
- −5.6%
- Record
- 15,000 t
- 1964
Rye in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.02%
- 0.01% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.1
- world 3.2 (−65%)
- kg per person
- 0.03
- world 1.42
- 10-year change
- −5.6%
- world −26%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Morocco | 2,352 | 0.02% |
| 48 | Croatia | 2,150 | 0.02% |
| 49 | South Africa | 1,957 | 0.02% |
| 50 | Kyrgyzstan | 1,551 | 0.01% |
| 51 | Moldova | 1,464 | 0.01% |
Map of world production of rye
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 | 1,957 | +0.2% | 1,782 | 1.10 |
| 2023 | 1,954 | −0.4% | 1,781 | 1.10 |
| 2022 | 1,961 | +0.2% | 1,787 | 1.10 |
| 2021 | 1,957 | +0.6% | 1,777 | 1.10 |
| 2020 | 1,946 | −1.7% | 1,778 | 1.09 |
| 2019 | 1,979 | +1.7% | 1,807 | 1.10 |
| 2018 | 1,945 | +1.6% | 1,747 | 1.11 |
| 2017 | 1,914 | −7.9% | 1,779 | 1.08 |
| 2016 | 2,078 | +13% | 1,894 | 1.10 |
| 2015 | 1,843 | −11% | 1,569 | 1.17 |
| 2014 | 2,074 | −11% | 1,891 | 1.10 |
| 2013 | 2,318 | +2.0% | 2,222 | 1.04 |
| 2012 | 2,272 | +5.0% | 2,290 | 0.99 |
| 2011 | 2,163 | +14% | 2,299 | 0.94 |
| 2010 | 1,898 | −5.1% | 2,133 | 0.89 |
| 2009 | 2,000 | −33% | 2,424 | 0.83 |
| 2008 | 3,000 | −3.2% | 3,577 | 0.84 |
| 2007 | 3,100 | +3.3% | 3,500 | 0.89 |
| 2006 | 3,000 | +114% | 3,400 | 0.88 |
| 2005 | 1,400 | +126% | 2,200 | 0.64 |
| 2004 | 620 | +170% | 2,000 | 0.31 |
| 2003 | 230 | −67% | 1,300 | 0.18 |
| 2002 | 700 | −57% | 1,500 | 0.47 |
| 2001 | 1,630 | +36% | 4,319 | 0.38 |
| 2000 | 1,200 | −60% | 4,334 | 0.28 |
| 1999 | 3,000 | 0.0% | 16,276 | 0.18 |
| 1998 | 3,000 | −6.3% | 40,000 | 0.08 |
| 1997 | 3,200 | −4.9% | 40,000 | 0.08 |
| 1996 | 3,366 | +14% | 46,300 | 0.07 |
| 1995 | 2,952 | −1.6% | 46,530 | 0.06 |
| 1994 | 3,000 | 0.0% | 47,000 | 0.06 |
| 1993 | 3,000 | +50% | 45,000 | 0.07 |
| 1992 | 2,000 | −50% | 34,000 | 0.06 |
| 1991 | 4,000 | +33% | 65,000 | 0.06 |
| 1990 | 3,000 | 0.0% | 60,000 | 0.05 |
| 1989 | 3,000 | +50% | 90,000 | 0.03 |
| 1988 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 36,000 | 0.06 |
| 1987 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 26,000 | 0.08 |
| 1986 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 28,000 | 0.07 |
| 1985 | 2,000 | −67% | 26,000 | 0.08 |
| 1984 | 6,000 | 0.0% | 30,000 | 0.20 |
| 1983 | 6,000 | −14% | 32,000 | 0.19 |
| 1982 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 33,000 | 0.21 |
| 1981 | 7,000 | +75% | 36,000 | 0.19 |
| 1980 | 4,000 | −33% | 30,000 | 0.13 |
| 1979 | 6,000 | +100% | 33,000 | 0.18 |
| 1978 | 3,000 | −25% | 20,000 | 0.15 |
| 1977 | 4,000 | 0.0% | 20,000 | 0.20 |
| 1976 | 4,000 | 0.0% | 28,000 | 0.14 |
| 1975 | 4,000 | −20% | 28,000 | 0.14 |
| 1974 | 5,000 | −17% | 35,000 | 0.14 |
| 1973 | 6,000 | −14% | 32,000 | 0.19 |
| 1972 | 7,000 | +17% | 33,000 | 0.21 |
| 1971 | 6,000 | −14% | 25,000 | 0.24 |
| 1970 | 7,000 | −4.1% | 24,000 | 0.29 |
| 1969 | 7,300 | +4.3% | 99,000 | 0.07 |
| 1968 | 7,000 | −45% | 110,000 | 0.06 |
| 1967 | 12,701 | +65% | 131,000 | 0.10 |
| 1966 | 7,711 | −14% | 126,000 | 0.06 |
| 1965 | 9,000 | −40% | 106,000 | 0.08 |
| 1964 | 15,000 | +25% | 86,000 | 0.17 |
| 1963 | 12,000 | +71% | 62,000 | 0.19 |
| 1962 | 7,000 | −21% | 54,000 | 0.13 |
| 1961 | 8,890 | — | 50,000 | 0.18 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 9 t USD 14,000
- Exporter rank
- 38 of 44
- Imports
- 204 t USD 104,000
- Importer rank
- 41 of 70
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 rye in South Africa?
South Africa produced 1,957 t in 2024, 0.02% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of rye?
South Africa ranked 49th of 62 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Germany with 22.3% of the world total.
How has the production of rye in South Africa changed?
It fell by 5.6% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −26% for the world. The record was 15,000 t in 1964.
What is the yield of rye in South Africa?
1.1 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (1,957 t from 1,782 ha), against a world average of 3.2 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import rye?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 9 t (USD 14,000) and imports of 204 t (USD 104,000), 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 estimated by FAO. 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.