Tobacco, unmanufactured production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 11,231 t of tobacco, unmanufactured, the 36th largest in the world (0.19% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 13%. The record was 47,707 t in 1979. Area harvested: 4,083 ha, yield 2.8 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 11,231 t
- World rank
- 36 of 118
- 10-year change
- −13%
- Record
- 47,707 t
- 1979
Tobacco, unmanufactured in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.19%
- 0.18% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.8
- world 1.8 (+50%)
- kg per person
- 0.18
- world 0.74
- 10-year change
- −13%
- world −16%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Kenya | 12,446 | 0.21% |
| 35 | Cambodia | 12,410 | 0.21% |
| 36 | South Africa | 11,231 | 0.19% |
| 37 | Algeria | 11,182 | 0.18% |
| 38 | Lebanon | 10,522 | 0.17% |
Map of world production of tobacco, unmanufactured
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 | 11,231 | +18% | 4,083 | 2.75 |
| 2023 | 9,514 | −4.9% | 3,733 | 2.55 |
| 2022 | 10,000 | −13% | 4,300 | 2.33 |
| 2021 | 11,500 | −24% | 4,700 | 2.45 |
| 2020 | 15,100 | +0.7% | 4,900 | 3.08 |
| 2019 | 15,000 | −3.8% | 4,900 | 3.06 |
| 2018 | 15,600 | +5.4% | 5,000 | 3.12 |
| 2017 | 14,800 | +0.7% | 4,600 | 3.22 |
| 2016 | 14,700 | +2.2% | 4,900 | 3.00 |
| 2015 | 14,380 | +12% | 4,891 | 2.94 |
| 2014 | 12,876 | −15% | 4,700 | 2.74 |
| 2013 | 15,200 | −11% | 5,200 | 2.92 |
| 2012 | 17,010 | +13% | 5,139 | 3.31 |
| 2011 | 15,000 | +22% | 5,400 | 2.78 |
| 2010 | 12,300 | +29% | 3,950 | 3.11 |
| 2009 | 9,565 | +5.8% | 3,562 | 2.69 |
| 2008 | 9,041 | −29% | 3,363 | 2.69 |
| 2007 | 12,810 | −14% | 5,000 | 2.56 |
| 2006 | 14,850 | −37% | 6,000 | 2.48 |
| 2005 | 23,550 | −6.5% | 9,200 | 2.56 |
| 2004 | 25,200 | −33% | 11,500 | 2.19 |
| 2003 | 37,400 | +13% | 13,600 | 2.75 |
| 2002 | 33,020 | −2.9% | 14,700 | 2.25 |
| 2001 | 33,990 | +14% | 15,000 | 2.27 |
| 2000 | 29,700 | −1.3% | 15,600 | 1.90 |
| 1999 | 30,100 | −4.4% | 13,900 | 2.17 |
| 1998 | 31,490 | +19% | 14,400 | 2.19 |
| 1997 | 26,420 | +23% | 13,800 | 1.91 |
| 1996 | 21,520 | +4.6% | 14,700 | 1.46 |
| 1995 | 20,570 | +5.7% | 13,996 | 1.47 |
| 1994 | 19,460 | −36% | 15,962 | 1.22 |
| 1993 | 30,390 | −13% | 24,000 | 1.27 |
| 1992 | 34,980 | +15% | 24,000 | 1.46 |
| 1991 | 30,290 | +11% | 22,000 | 1.38 |
| 1990 | 27,400 | −26% | 25,000 | 1.10 |
| 1989 | 36,900 | +25% | 25,000 | 1.48 |
| 1988 | 29,500 | +8.5% | 25,000 | 1.18 |
| 1987 | 27,200 | −16% | 26,000 | 1.05 |
| 1986 | 32,200 | −14% | 31,000 | 1.04 |
| 1985 | 37,300 | +5.1% | 34,041 | 1.10 |
| 1984 | 35,500 | −8.2% | 31,994 | 1.11 |
| 1983 | 38,690 | +13% | 33,641 | 1.15 |
| 1982 | 34,230 | +23% | 30,027 | 1.14 |
| 1981 | 27,737 | −20% | 31,000 | 0.89 |
| 1980 | 34,600 | −27% | 37,691 | 0.92 |
| 1979 | 47,707 | +8.5% | 39,691 | 1.20 |
| 1978 | 43,970 | +8.5% | 46,847 | 0.94 |
| 1977 | 40,530 | +26% | 46,000 | 0.88 |
| 1976 | 32,100 | +17% | 36,000 | 0.89 |
| 1975 | 27,500 | −18% | 39,000 | 0.71 |
| 1974 | 33,700 | +15% | 37,000 | 0.91 |
| 1973 | 29,200 | −5.8% | 38,000 | 0.77 |
| 1972 | 31,000 | −4.3% | 40,306 | 0.77 |
| 1971 | 32,400 | −5.8% | 36,000 | 0.90 |
| 1970 | 34,400 | −9.0% | 44,919 | 0.77 |
| 1969 | 37,800 | −0.9% | 34,000 | 1.11 |
| 1968 | 38,150 | +40% | 30,756 | 1.24 |
| 1967 | 27,200 | +23% | 36,000 | 0.76 |
| 1966 | 22,100 | −19% | 28,000 | 0.79 |
| 1965 | 27,400 | −12% | 31,000 | 0.88 |
| 1964 | 31,200 | +11% | 34,000 | 0.92 |
| 1963 | 28,200 | +16% | 32,000 | 0.88 |
| 1962 | 24,400 | −6.9% | 32,000 | 0.76 |
| 1961 | 26,200 | — | 33,000 | 0.79 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 2,929 t USD 25.6 m
- Exporter rank
- 48 of 101
- Imports
- 14,158 t USD 50.2 m
- Importer rank
- 32 of 139
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 tobacco, unmanufactured in South Africa?
South Africa produced 11,231 t in 2024, 0.19% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of tobacco, unmanufactured?
South Africa ranked 36th of 118 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 37.3% of the world total.
How has the production of tobacco, unmanufactured in South Africa changed?
It fell by 13% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −16% for the world. The record was 47,707 t in 1979.
What is the yield of tobacco, unmanufactured in South Africa?
2.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (11,231 t from 4,083 ha), against a world average of 1.8 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import unmanufactured tobacco?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 2,929 t (USD 25.6 m) and imports of 14,158 t (USD 50.2 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; the 2024 figure for South Africa is imputed 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.