Sorghum production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 98,000 t of sorghum, the 40th largest in the world (0.15% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 63%. The record was 728,000 t in 1967. Area harvested: 42,100 ha, yield 2.3 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 98,000 t
- World rank
- 40 of 107
- 10-year change
- −63%
- Record
- 728,000 t
- 1967
Sorghum in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.15%
- 0.39% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.3
- world 1.5 (+60%)
- kg per person
- 1.53
- world 7.87
- 10-year change
- −63%
- world −5.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Malawi | 102,000 | 0.16% |
| 39 | El Salvador | 99,000 | 0.15% |
| 40 | South Africa | 98,000 | 0.15% |
| 41 | Zimbabwe | 82,063 | 0.13% |
| 42 | Côte d'Ivoire | 66,489 | 0.10% |
Map of world production of sorghum
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 | 98,000 | +3.9% | 42,100 | 2.33 |
| 2023 | 94,360 | −8.5% | 34,000 | 2.78 |
| 2022 | 103,140 | −52% | 37,200 | 2.77 |
| 2021 | 215,000 | +36% | 49,200 | 4.37 |
| 2020 | 158,000 | +24% | 42,500 | 3.72 |
| 2019 | 127,000 | +10% | 50,500 | 2.51 |
| 2018 | 115,000 | −24% | 28,800 | 3.99 |
| 2017 | 152,000 | +116% | 42,350 | 3.59 |
| 2016 | 70,500 | −41% | 48,500 | 1.45 |
| 2015 | 120,500 | −55% | 70,500 | 1.71 |
| 2014 | 265,000 | +80% | 78,750 | 3.37 |
| 2013 | 147,200 | +9.0% | 62,620 | 2.35 |
| 2012 | 135,000 | −13% | 48,550 | 2.78 |
| 2011 | 155,000 | −21% | 69,200 | 2.24 |
| 2010 | 196,500 | −29% | 86,675 | 2.27 |
| 2009 | 276,500 | +8.4% | 85,500 | 3.23 |
| 2008 | 255,000 | +45% | 86,800 | 2.94 |
| 2007 | 176,000 | +83% | 69,000 | 2.55 |
| 2006 | 96,000 | −63% | 37,150 | 2.58 |
| 2005 | 260,000 | −30% | 86,500 | 3.01 |
| 2004 | 373,000 | +43% | 130,000 | 2.87 |
| 2003 | 260,000 | +0.8% | 95,497 | 2.72 |
| 2002 | 258,000 | +25% | 75,250 | 3.43 |
| 2001 | 206,173 | −56% | 88,000 | 2.34 |
| 2000 | 472,763 | +111% | 142,200 | 3.32 |
| 1999 | 223,530 | −38% | 98,900 | 2.26 |
| 1998 | 358,469 | −17% | 131,277 | 2.73 |
| 1997 | 433,371 | −19% | 161,000 | 2.69 |
| 1996 | 535,839 | +84% | 174,120 | 3.08 |
| 1995 | 290,557 | −44% | 143,000 | 2.03 |
| 1994 | 520,185 | +0.9% | 227,000 | 2.29 |
| 1993 | 515,368 | +337% | 239,000 | 2.16 |
| 1992 | 118,000 | −61% | 191,000 | 0.62 |
| 1991 | 302,000 | −11% | 166,000 | 1.82 |
| 1990 | 341,000 | −33% | 196,000 | 1.74 |
| 1989 | 511,000 | −22% | 228,000 | 2.24 |
| 1988 | 651,000 | −3.8% | 326,000 | 2.00 |
| 1987 | 677,000 | +39% | 401,000 | 1.69 |
| 1986 | 487,000 | −22% | 388,000 | 1.26 |
| 1985 | 628,000 | +26% | 354,000 | 1.77 |
| 1984 | 498,000 | +125% | 323,000 | 1.54 |
| 1983 | 221,000 | −27% | 247,000 | 0.89 |
| 1982 | 302,000 | −45% | 215,000 | 1.40 |
| 1981 | 553,000 | −22% | 219,000 | 2.53 |
| 1980 | 711,000 | +89% | 264,000 | 2.69 |
| 1979 | 377,000 | −39% | 250,000 | 1.51 |
| 1978 | 620,000 | +48% | 284,000 | 2.18 |
| 1977 | 419,000 | +35% | 283,000 | 1.48 |
| 1976 | 310,000 | −23% | 213,000 | 1.46 |
| 1975 | 405,000 | −41% | 254,000 | 1.59 |
| 1974 | 685,000 | +209% | 336,000 | 2.04 |
| 1973 | 222,000 | −56% | 214,000 | 1.04 |
| 1972 | 510,000 | −7.4% | 322,000 | 1.58 |
| 1971 | 551,000 | +45% | 380,000 | 1.45 |
| 1970 | 379,000 | +90% | 328,000 | 1.16 |
| 1969 | 199,000 | 0.0% | 255,000 | 0.78 |
| 1968 | 199,000 | −73% | 266,000 | 0.75 |
| 1967 | 728,000 | +132% | 640,000 | 1.14 |
| 1966 | 314,000 | −24% | 456,000 | 0.69 |
| 1965 | 414,000 | +61% | 483,000 | 0.86 |
| 1964 | 257,000 | −5.5% | 366,000 | 0.70 |
| 1963 | 272,000 | +50% | 501,000 | 0.54 |
| 1962 | 181,164 | −46% | 264,000 | 0.69 |
| 1961 | 335,022 | — | 328,000 | 1.02 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 38,831 t USD 20.9 m
- Exporter rank
- 11 of 76
- Imports
- 164,537 t USD 33.8 m
- Importer rank
- 3 of 130
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 sorghum in South Africa?
South Africa produced 98,000 t in 2024, 0.15% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of sorghum?
South Africa ranked 40th of 107 countries in 2024. The largest producer was United States with 13.6% of the world total.
How has the production of sorghum in South Africa changed?
It fell by 63% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −5.8% for the world. The record was 728,000 t in 1967.
What is the yield of sorghum in South Africa?
2.3 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (98,000 t from 42,100 ha), against a world average of 1.5 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import sorghum?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 38,831 t (USD 20.9 m) and imports of 164,537 t (USD 33.8 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
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.