Seed cotton production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 48,712 t of seed cotton, the 37th largest in the world (0.07% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 106%. The record was 196,051 t in 1988. Area harvested: 18,385 ha, yield 2.6 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 48,712 t
- World rank
- 37 of 83
- 10-year change
- +106%
- Record
- 196,051 t
- 1988
Seed cotton in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.07%
- 0.03% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.6
- world 2.4 (+12%)
- kg per person
- 0.76
- world 8.92
- 10-year change
- +106%
- world −4.3%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Central African Republic | 51,117 | 0.07% |
| 36 | Spain | 49,099 | 0.07% |
| 37 | South Africa | 48,712 | 0.07% |
| 38 | Kyrgyzstan | 46,338 | 0.06% |
| 39 | Guinea | 44,808 | 0.06% |
Map of world production of seed cotton
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 | 48,712 | +13% | 18,385 | 2.65 |
| 2023 | 43,265 | +4.4% | 17,664 | 2.45 |
| 2022 | 41,437 | +0.9% | 18,018 | 2.30 |
| 2021 | 41,086 | −43% | 16,313 | 2.52 |
| 2020 | 72,557 | −44% | 27,675 | 2.62 |
| 2019 | 128,770 | +27% | 43,000 | 2.99 |
| 2018 | 101,741 | +143% | 37,000 | 2.75 |
| 2017 | 41,945 | +54% | 17,841 | 2.35 |
| 2016 | 27,274 | −46% | 7,039 | 3.87 |
| 2015 | 50,769 | +115% | 15,428 | 3.29 |
| 2014 | 23,635 | +68% | 7,458 | 3.17 |
| 2013 | 14,069 | −57% | 6,827 | 2.06 |
| 2012 | 32,605 | −30% | 9,397 | 3.47 |
| 2011 | 46,349 | +123% | 13,145 | 3.53 |
| 2010 | 20,795 | −8.5% | 5,111 | 4.07 |
| 2009 | 22,716 | −14% | 6,814 | 3.33 |
| 2008 | 26,476 | −9.5% | 9,221 | 2.87 |
| 2007 | 29,270 | −25% | 10,563 | 2.77 |
| 2006 | 39,239 | −27% | 18,114 | 2.17 |
| 2005 | 54,110 | −25% | 21,763 | 2.49 |
| 2004 | 71,701 | +74% | 35,719 | 2.01 |
| 2003 | 41,127 | −12% | 22,574 | 1.82 |
| 2002 | 46,984 | −49% | 38,688 | 1.21 |
| 2001 | 91,603 | +32% | 56,692 | 1.62 |
| 2000 | 69,614 | −46% | 51,000 | 1.36 |
| 1999 | 128,360 | +30% | 99,000 | 1.30 |
| 1998 | 98,591 | +40% | 90,000 | 1.10 |
| 1997 | 70,629 | −38% | 83,000 | 0.85 |
| 1996 | 113,377 | +79% | 90,000 | 1.26 |
| 1995 | 63,451 | −6.3% | 54,000 | 1.18 |
| 1994 | 67,737 | +124% | 67,052 | 1.01 |
| 1993 | 30,186 | −40% | 35,000 | 0.86 |
| 1992 | 50,545 | −54% | 48,000 | 1.05 |
| 1991 | 110,749 | −26% | 91,000 | 1.22 |
| 1990 | 149,480 | −20% | 123,000 | 1.22 |
| 1989 | 187,803 | −4.2% | 174,000 | 1.08 |
| 1988 | 196,051 | +34% | 182,000 | 1.08 |
| 1987 | 146,551 | +26% | 160,000 | 0.92 |
| 1986 | 116,109 | +0.6% | 126,000 | 0.92 |
| 1985 | 115,394 | +36% | 107,000 | 1.08 |
| 1984 | 84,554 | +22% | 99,000 | 0.85 |
| 1983 | 69,411 | −26% | 105,000 | 0.66 |
| 1982 | 94,209 | −36% | 107,000 | 0.88 |
| 1981 | 146,511 | −13% | 115,000 | 1.27 |
| 1980 | 167,994 | +16% | 120,000 | 1.40 |
| 1979 | 144,646 | +10% | 100,000 | 1.45 |
| 1978 | 130,903 | +47% | 81,000 | 1.62 |
| 1977 | 89,083 | +136% | 63,000 | 1.41 |
| 1976 | 37,817 | −63% | 26,000 | 1.45 |
| 1975 | 103,423 | +3.2% | 46,000 | 2.25 |
| 1974 | 100,234 | +132% | 87,000 | 1.15 |
| 1973 | 43,260 | +16% | 81,000 | 0.53 |
| 1972 | 37,429 | −0.5% | 81,000 | 0.46 |
| 1971 | 37,623 | −13% | 24,000 | 1.57 |
| 1970 | 43,306 | −30% | 81,000 | 0.53 |
| 1969 | 61,946 | +54% | 81,000 | 0.76 |
| 1968 | 40,217 | +23% | 71,000 | 0.57 |
| 1967 | 32,763 | −27% | 71,000 | 0.46 |
| 1966 | 44,907 | −20% | 71,000 | 0.63 |
| 1965 | 56,472 | +66% | 42,000 | 1.34 |
| 1964 | 34,020 | −17% | 51,000 | 0.67 |
| 1963 | 40,824 | +85% | 32,000 | 1.28 |
| 1962 | 22,113 | +41% | 20,000 | 1.11 |
| 1961 | 15,648 | — | 15,000 | 1.04 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of seed cotton in South Africa?
South Africa produced 48,712 t in 2024, 0.07% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of seed cotton?
South Africa ranked 37th of 83 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 25.7% of the world total.
How has the production of seed cotton in South Africa changed?
It rose by 106% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.3% for the world. The record was 196,051 t in 1988.
What is the yield of seed cotton in South Africa?
2.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (48,712 t from 18,385 ha), against a world average of 2.4 t/ha.
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.