> In 2024 South Africa produced 70,564 t of sweet potatoes, the 50th largest in the world (0.08% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 13%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Sweet potatoes production in South Africa

In 2024 South Africa produced 70,564 t of sweet potatoes, the 50th largest in the world (0.08% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 13%. The record was 91,666 t in 2022. Area harvested: 27,285 ha, yield 2.6 t/ha.

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

Production, 202470,564 t
World rank50 of 111
10-year change+13%
Record91,666 t2022

## Sweet potatoes in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.08%0.07% in 2014
Yield, t/ha2.6world 12.6 (−79%)
kg per person1.10world 11.1
10-year change+13%world −3.1%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 48 | [Zambia](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/zambia/) | 83,542 | 0.09% |
| 49 | [Uruguay](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/uruguay/) | 82,001 | 0.09% |
| 50 | **South Africa** | 70,564 | 0.08% |
| 51 | [Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/mexico/) | 66,732 | 0.07% |
| 52 | [Côte d'Ivoire](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/cote-divoire/) | 63,100 | 0.07% |

[Full ranking of 111 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/)

### Map of world production of sweet potatoes

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 | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 70,564 | −6.8% | 27,285 | 2.59 |
| 2023 | 75,723 | −17% | 28,894 | 2.62 |
| 2022 | 91,666 | +12% | 34,537 | 2.65 |
| 2021 | 81,613 | −3.0% | 30,236 | 2.70 |
| 2020 | 84,120 | −6.7% | 31,018 | 2.71 |
| 2019 | 90,156 | +4.6% | 32,777 | 2.75 |
| 2018 | 86,186 | +16% | 30,943 | 2.79 |
| 2017 | 74,365 | +21% | 26,304 | 2.83 |
| 2016 | 61,658 | −5.8% | 21,510 | 2.87 |
| 2015 | 65,473 | +4.6% | 22,423 | 2.92 |
| 2014 | 62,569 | −3.9% | 21,338 | 2.93 |
| 2013 | 65,135 | +18% | 21,934 | 2.97 |
| 2012 | 55,400 | −0.7% | 18,426 | 3.01 |
| 2011 | 55,775 | −15% | 18,195 | 3.07 |
| 2010 | 65,780 | +4.4% | 21,304 | 3.09 |
| 2009 | 63,022 | +20% | 21,000 | 3.00 |
| 2008 | 52,496 | +3.8% | 16,434 | 3.19 |
| 2007 | 50,598 | +7.7% | 15,500 | 3.26 |
| 2006 | 46,994 | −14% | 15,000 | 3.13 |
| 2005 | 54,342 | −0.8% | 16,130 | 3.37 |
| 2004 | 54,797 | +9.3% | 16,000 | 3.42 |
| 2003 | 50,129 | −4.3% | 14,500 | 3.46 |
| 2002 | 52,377 | −6.8% | 15,000 | 3.49 |
| 2001 | 56,210 | +8.0% | 16,151 | 3.48 |
| 2000 | 52,053 | +0.1% | 14,817 | 3.51 |
| 1999 | 52,000 | −10% | 14,774 | 3.52 |
| 1998 | 58,000 | −2.6% | 16,272 | 3.56 |
| 1997 | 59,568 | +28% | 15,500 | 3.84 |
| 1996 | 46,453 | −17% | 14,500 | 3.20 |
| 1995 | 55,874 | −15% | 15,500 | 3.60 |
| 1994 | 65,792 | +0.7% | 18,248 | 3.61 |
| 1993 | 65,332 | +15% | 17,500 | 3.73 |
| 1992 | 56,688 | −3.5% | 15,617 | 3.63 |
| 1991 | 58,744 | +9.2% | 16,000 | 3.67 |
| 1990 | 53,808 | +1.6% | 15,000 | 3.59 |
| 1989 | 52,975 | −9.8% | 14,500 | 3.65 |
| 1988 | 58,750 | −2.8% | 16,500 | 3.56 |
| 1987 | 60,452 | +19% | 16,500 | 3.66 |
| 1986 | 51,000 | −8.9% | 15,000 | 3.40 |
| 1985 | 56,000 | +7.7% | 15,000 | 3.73 |
| 1984 | 52,000 | +11% | 14,500 | 3.59 |
| 1983 | 47,000 | +6.8% | 13,000 | 3.62 |
| 1982 | 44,000 | −2.2% | 13,000 | 3.38 |
| 1981 | 45,000 | −2.2% | 13,000 | 3.46 |
| 1980 | 46,000 | −2.1% | 13,000 | 3.54 |
| 1979 | 47,000 | +6.8% | 13,000 | 3.62 |
| 1978 | 44,000 | 0.0% | 13,000 | 3.38 |
| 1977 | 44,000 | +7.3% | 13,000 | 3.38 |
| 1976 | 41,000 | +5.1% | 13,000 | 3.15 |
| 1975 | 39,000 | −9.3% | 13,000 | 3.00 |
| 1974 | 43,000 | +4.9% | 13,000 | 3.31 |
| 1973 | 41,000 | −2.4% | 13,000 | 3.15 |
| 1972 | 42,000 | +14% | 13,000 | 3.23 |
| 1971 | 37,000 | −14% | 13,000 | 2.85 |
| 1970 | 43,000 | +19% | 13,000 | 3.31 |
| 1969 | 36,000 | −10.0% | 14,000 | 2.57 |
| 1968 | 40,000 | −2.4% | 14,000 | 2.86 |
| 1967 | 41,000 | +17% | 15,000 | 2.73 |
| 1966 | 35,000 | −2.8% | 15,000 | 2.33 |
| 1965 | 36,000 | −7.7% | 15,000 | 2.40 |
| 1964 | 39,000 | +8.3% | 15,000 | 2.60 |
| 1963 | 36,000 | −18% | 15,000 | 2.40 |
| 1962 | 44,000 | +7.3% | 14,000 | 3.14 |
| 1961 | 41,000 | — | 14,000 | 2.93 |

## Trade, 2024

Exports15,620 t USD 10.7 m
Exporter rank10 of 97
Imports690 t USD 73,000
Importer rank57 of 143
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/sweet-potatoes/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of sweet potatoes in South Africa?

South Africa produced 70,564 t in 2024, 0.08% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of sweet potatoes?

South Africa ranked 50th of 111 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 56.5% of the world total.

### How has the production of sweet potatoes in South Africa changed?

It rose by 13% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −3.1% for the world. The record was 91,666 t in 2022.

### What is the yield of sweet potatoes in South Africa?

2.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (70,564 t from 27,285 ha), against a world average of 12.6 t/ha.

### Does South Africa export or import sweet potatoes?

In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 15,620 t (USD 10.7 m) and imports of 690 t (USD 73,000), 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. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/china/)[Malawi](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/malawi/)[Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/nigeria/)[Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/tanzania/)[Angola](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/angola/)[Indonesia](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/indonesia/)[Rwanda](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/rwanda/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/india/)[Madagascar](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/madagascar/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/ethiopia/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/united-states/)[Uganda](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/uganda/)
[All countries producing sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/)

## 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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