Watermelons production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 88,590 t of watermelons, the 66th largest in the world (0.08% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 48%. The record was 139,223 t in 2010. Area harvested: 5,379 ha, yield 16.5 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 88,590 t
- World rank
- 66 of 124
- 10-year change
- +48%
- Record
- 139,223 t
- 2010
Watermelons in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.08%
- 0.06% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 16.5
- world 34.4 (−52%)
- kg per person
- 1.38
- world 12.9
- 10-year change
- +48%
- world +5.6%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | Israel | 92,684 | 0.09% |
| 65 | North Korea | 91,427 | 0.09% |
| 66 | South Africa | 88,590 | 0.08% |
| 67 | Ecuador | 75,294 | 0.07% |
| 68 | Honduras | 68,260 | 0.07% |
Map of world production of watermelons
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 | 88,590 | +39% | 5,379 | 16.47 |
| 2023 | 63,690 | +0.9% | 3,885 | 16.39 |
| 2022 | 63,101 | −23% | 3,867 | 16.32 |
| 2021 | 82,329 | +35% | 5,042 | 16.33 |
| 2020 | 60,915 | −24% | 3,761 | 16.20 |
| 2019 | 80,000 | +6.4% | 4,969 | 16.10 |
| 2018 | 75,160 | −6.5% | 4,698 | 16.00 |
| 2017 | 80,416 | +0.4% | 5,060 | 15.89 |
| 2016 | 80,084 | +8.5% | 5,066 | 15.81 |
| 2015 | 73,791 | +23% | 4,693 | 15.72 |
| 2014 | 59,882 | −12% | 3,841 | 15.59 |
| 2013 | 68,239 | −1.5% | 4,408 | 15.48 |
| 2012 | 69,304 | −9.6% | 4,502 | 15.39 |
| 2011 | 76,631 | −45% | 4,971 | 15.42 |
| 2010 | 139,223 | +93% | 9,138 | 15.24 |
| 2009 | 72,166 | +30% | 4,850 | 14.88 |
| 2008 | 55,555 | −14% | 3,700 | 15.01 |
| 2007 | 64,679 | +0.3% | 4,313 | 15.00 |
| 2006 | 64,517 | −8.9% | 4,300 | 15.00 |
| 2005 | 70,795 | +9.1% | 4,312 | 16.42 |
| 2004 | 64,866 | +6.0% | 4,443 | 14.60 |
| 2003 | 61,195 | +17% | 4,500 | 13.60 |
| 2002 | 52,323 | −5.2% | 3,703 | 14.13 |
| 2001 | 55,194 | −9.8% | 4,000 | 13.80 |
| 2000 | 61,190 | −15% | 4,347 | 14.08 |
| 1999 | 72,299 | +36% | 5,000 | 14.46 |
| 1998 | 53,096 | −3.0% | 3,891 | 13.65 |
| 1997 | 54,716 | +7.4% | 4,200 | 13.03 |
| 1996 | 50,930 | −5.9% | 3,830 | 13.30 |
| 1995 | 54,137 | +2.5% | 4,101 | 13.20 |
| 1994 | 52,836 | −18% | 4,000 | 13.21 |
| 1993 | 64,633 | +31% | 5,000 | 12.93 |
| 1992 | 49,220 | +8.7% | 3,829 | 12.85 |
| 1991 | 45,262 | −0.7% | 3,540 | 12.79 |
| 1990 | 45,583 | −11% | 3,643 | 12.51 |
| 1989 | 51,011 | −10% | 4,000 | 12.75 |
| 1988 | 56,929 | +38% | 4,400 | 12.94 |
| 1987 | 41,286 | −3.5% | 4,000 | 10.32 |
| 1986 | 42,769 | −17% | 4,000 | 10.69 |
| 1985 | 51,591 | +33% | 4,000 | 12.90 |
| 1984 | 38,645 | +2.4% | 4,000 | 9.66 |
| 1983 | 37,742 | +36% | 3,200 | 11.79 |
| 1982 | 27,687 | +31% | 3,200 | 8.65 |
| 1981 | 21,199 | −4.7% | 2,000 | 10.60 |
| 1980 | 22,255 | −30% | 1,800 | 12.36 |
| 1979 | 31,929 | −1.6% | 2,800 | 11.40 |
| 1978 | 32,464 | +9.4% | 2,600 | 12.49 |
| 1977 | 29,679 | +14% | 3,000 | 9.89 |
| 1976 | 25,962 | +14% | 3,200 | 8.11 |
| 1975 | 22,753 | −12% | 2,200 | 10.34 |
| 1974 | 25,928 | −2.9% | 2,300 | 11.27 |
| 1973 | 26,705 | −0.4% | 2,700 | 9.89 |
| 1972 | 26,799 | −9.8% | 2,600 | 10.31 |
| 1971 | 29,718 | −0.2% | 2,800 | 10.61 |
| 1970 | 29,767 | +29% | 2,800 | 10.63 |
| 1969 | 23,092 | −21% | 2,200 | 10.50 |
| 1968 | 29,227 | +15% | 2,800 | 10.44 |
| 1967 | 25,400 | +6.3% | 2,300 | 11.04 |
| 1966 | 23,900 | −16% | 2,300 | 10.39 |
| 1965 | 28,300 | +17% | 2,800 | 10.11 |
| 1964 | 24,200 | −28% | 2,500 | 9.68 |
| 1963 | 33,394 | −8.9% | 3,200 | 10.44 |
| 1962 | 36,640 | +19% | 3,500 | 10.47 |
| 1961 | 30,794 | — | 3,000 | 10.26 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 3,108 t USD 4.0 m
- Exporter rank
- 55 of 113
- Imports
- 4,103 t USD 961,000
- Importer rank
- 61 of 144
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 watermelons in South Africa?
South Africa produced 88,590 t in 2024, 0.08% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of watermelons?
South Africa ranked 66th of 124 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 60.5% of the world total.
How has the production of watermelons in South Africa changed?
It rose by 48% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +5.6% for the world. The record was 139,223 t in 2010.
What is the yield of watermelons in South Africa?
16.5 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (88,590 t from 5,379 ha), against a world average of 34.4 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import watermelons?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 3,108 t (USD 4.0 m) and imports of 4,103 t (USD 961,000), 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
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.