> In 2024 South Africa produced 168,000 t of sheep meat, the 15th largest in the world (1.46% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.7%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Sheep meat](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Sheep meat production in South Africa

In 2024 South Africa produced 168,000 t of sheep meat, the 15th largest in the world (1.46% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.7%. The record was 184,477 t in 1972.

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

Production, 2024168,000 t
World rank15 of 175
10-year change−8.7%
Record184,477 t1972

## Sheep meat in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total1.5%2.0% in 2014
kg per person2.62world 1.41
10-year change−8.7%world +23%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 13 | [Syria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/syria/) | 194,855 | 1.7% |
| 14 | [Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/russia/) | 188,214 | 1.6% |
| 15 | **South Africa** | 168,000 | 1.5% |
| 16 | [Saudi Arabia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/saudi-arabia/) | 166,976 | 1.4% |
| 17 | [Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/nigeria/) | 162,751 | 1.4% |

[Full ranking of 175 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/)

### Map of world production of sheep meat

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 | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 168,000 | +10% |
| 2023 | 152,500 | −5.3% |
| 2022 | 161,100 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 156,000 | −3.1% |
| 2020 | 161,000 | −1.2% |
| 2019 | 163,000 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 162,250 | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 155,803 | −8.0% |
| 2016 | 169,395 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 168,200 | −8.6% |
| 2014 | 183,970 | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 177,850 | +14% |
| 2012 | 156,200 | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 145,800 | −6.8% |
| 2010 | 156,400 | −4.2% |
| 2009 | 163,200 | −0.3% |
| 2008 | 163,700 | −3.7% |
| 2007 | 170,000 | +25% |
| 2006 | 136,100 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 134,900 | −2.9% |
| 2004 | 138,900 | +16% |
| 2003 | 120,000 | +14% |
| 2002 | 105,000 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 104,000 | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 102,300 | −9.5% |
| 1999 | 113,100 | +14% |
| 1998 | 99,000 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 98,400 | −7.6% |
| 1996 | 106,500 | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 100,400 | −11% |
| 1994 | 112,500 | −27% |
| 1993 | 153,500 | −8.6% |
| 1992 | 167,900 | −8.6% |
| 1991 | 183,600 | +38% |
| 1990 | 133,000 | 0.0% |
| 1989 | 133,000 | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 130,000 | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 127,000 | +15% |
| 1986 | 110,000 | −19% |
| 1985 | 135,000 | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 134,000 | 0.0% |
| 1983 | 134,000 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 133,500 | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 133,300 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 133,071 | 0.0% |
| 1979 | 133,071 | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 127,615 | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 121,060 | −3.3% |
| 1976 | 125,162 | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 117,147 | +6.1% |
| 1974 | 110,379 | −18% |
| 1973 | 133,911 | −27% |
| 1972 | 184,477 | +8.3% |
| 1971 | 170,343 | +7.9% |
| 1970 | 157,889 | −11% |
| 1969 | 177,000 | +15% |
| 1968 | 154,000 | +19% |
| 1967 | 129,000 | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 125,000 | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 119,000 | +16% |
| 1964 | 103,000 | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 102,000 | −2.9% |
| 1962 | 105,000 | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 103,000 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports12,766 t USD 75.7 m
Exporter rank11 of 82
Imports3,532 t USD 6.1 m
Importer rank40 of 178
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](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of sheep meat in South Africa?

South Africa produced 168,000 t in 2024, 1.5% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of sheep meat?

South Africa ranked 15th of 175 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 22.9% of the world total.

### How has the production of sheep meat in South Africa changed?

It fell by 8.7% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +23% for the world. The record was 184,477 t in 1972.

### Does South Africa export or import meat of sheep, fresh or chilled?

In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 12,766 t (USD 75.7 m) and imports of 3,532 t (USD 6.1 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

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/china/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/india/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/australia/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/turkey/)[New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/new-zealand/)[Algeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/algeria/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/sudan/)[Uzbekistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/uzbekistan/)[United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/united-kingdom/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/chad/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/pakistan/)[Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/iran/)
[All countries producing sheep meat](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/)

## 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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