Wheat production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 1.9 million t of wheat, the 40th largest in the world (0.24% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 10.0%. The record was 3.6 million t in 1988. Area harvested: 505,300 ha, yield 3.8 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 1.9 million t
- World rank
- 40 of 122
- 10-year change
- +10.0%
- Record
- 3.6 million t
- 1988
Wheat in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.24%
- 0.24% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 3.8
- world 3.6 (+4.7%)
- kg per person
- 30.1
- world 97.8
- 10-year change
- +10.0%
- world +9.1%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Syria | 2,431,225 | 0.30% |
| 39 | Nepal | 2,035,559 | 0.25% |
| 40 | South Africa | 1,924,890 | 0.24% |
| 41 | Slovakia | 1,907,940 | 0.24% |
| 42 | Azerbaijan | 1,901,046 | 0.24% |
Map of world production of wheat
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 | 1,924,890 | −6.1% | 505,300 | 3.81 |
| 2023 | 2,050,000 | −2.8% | 537,950 | 3.81 |
| 2022 | 2,110,000 | −7.7% | 566,800 | 3.72 |
| 2021 | 2,285,000 | +7.8% | 523,500 | 4.36 |
| 2020 | 2,120,000 | +38% | 509,800 | 4.16 |
| 2019 | 1,535,000 | −18% | 540,000 | 2.84 |
| 2018 | 1,868,000 | +22% | 503,350 | 3.71 |
| 2017 | 1,535,000 | −20% | 491,600 | 3.12 |
| 2016 | 1,910,000 | +33% | 508,365 | 3.76 |
| 2015 | 1,440,000 | −18% | 482,150 | 2.99 |
| 2014 | 1,750,000 | −6.4% | 476,570 | 3.67 |
| 2013 | 1,870,000 | −2.3% | 505,500 | 3.70 |
| 2012 | 1,915,000 | −4.5% | 511,000 | 3.75 |
| 2011 | 2,005,000 | +40% | 604,700 | 3.32 |
| 2010 | 1,430,000 | −27% | 558,100 | 2.56 |
| 2009 | 1,958,000 | −8.1% | 642,500 | 3.05 |
| 2008 | 2,130,000 | +12% | 748,000 | 2.85 |
| 2007 | 1,905,000 | −9.5% | 632,000 | 3.01 |
| 2006 | 2,105,000 | +10% | 765,000 | 2.75 |
| 2005 | 1,905,000 | +13% | 805,000 | 2.37 |
| 2004 | 1,687,000 | +9.1% | 830,000 | 2.03 |
| 2003 | 1,546,840 | −37% | 748,000 | 2.07 |
| 2002 | 2,437,745 | −2.6% | 941,000 | 2.59 |
| 2001 | 2,503,950 | +3.1% | 974,000 | 2.57 |
| 2000 | 2,428,100 | +40% | 934,000 | 2.60 |
| 1999 | 1,733,030 | −8.4% | 718,000 | 2.41 |
| 1998 | 1,892,080 | −22% | 748,000 | 2.53 |
| 1997 | 2,428,840 | −10% | 1,382,000 | 1.76 |
| 1996 | 2,711,991 | +37% | 1,293,800 | 2.10 |
| 1995 | 1,977,254 | +7.4% | 1,363,000 | 1.45 |
| 1994 | 1,840,380 | −7.2% | 1,048,000 | 1.76 |
| 1993 | 1,983,770 | +50% | 1,075,000 | 1.85 |
| 1992 | 1,324,000 | −38% | 750,000 | 1.77 |
| 1991 | 2,142,000 | +25% | 1,436,000 | 1.49 |
| 1990 | 1,709,000 | −15% | 1,563,000 | 1.09 |
| 1989 | 2,010,000 | −44% | 1,843,000 | 1.09 |
| 1988 | 3,620,000 | +15% | 2,009,000 | 1.80 |
| 1987 | 3,154,000 | +35% | 1,749,000 | 1.80 |
| 1986 | 2,333,000 | +38% | 1,946,000 | 1.20 |
| 1985 | 1,693,000 | −28% | 1,983,000 | 0.85 |
| 1984 | 2,346,000 | +32% | 1,942,000 | 1.21 |
| 1983 | 1,784,000 | −27% | 1,819,000 | 0.98 |
| 1982 | 2,444,000 | +3.7% | 2,013,000 | 1.21 |
| 1981 | 2,356,000 | +60% | 1,812,000 | 1.30 |
| 1980 | 1,472,000 | −29% | 1,627,000 | 0.90 |
| 1979 | 2,087,000 | +23% | 1,903,000 | 1.10 |
| 1978 | 1,692,000 | −10.0% | 1,895,000 | 0.89 |
| 1977 | 1,879,000 | −16% | 1,828,000 | 1.03 |
| 1976 | 2,248,000 | +25% | 1,959,000 | 1.15 |
| 1975 | 1,792,000 | +12% | 1,839,000 | 0.97 |
| 1974 | 1,596,000 | −15% | 1,865,000 | 0.86 |
| 1973 | 1,871,000 | +7.2% | 2,025,000 | 0.92 |
| 1972 | 1,746,000 | +4.6% | 2,017,000 | 0.87 |
| 1971 | 1,670,000 | +20% | 2,010,000 | 0.83 |
| 1970 | 1,396,000 | +6.1% | 1,930,000 | 0.72 |
| 1969 | 1,316,000 | +5.5% | 1,850,000 | 0.71 |
| 1968 | 1,247,000 | +16% | 1,670,000 | 0.75 |
| 1967 | 1,077,000 | +97% | 1,298,000 | 0.83 |
| 1966 | 548,000 | −16% | 1,134,000 | 0.48 |
| 1965 | 656,000 | −38% | 1,360,000 | 0.48 |
| 1964 | 1,060,000 | +20% | 1,319,000 | 0.80 |
| 1963 | 880,000 | +25% | 1,519,000 | 0.58 |
| 1962 | 705,000 | −19% | 1,375,000 | 0.51 |
| 1961 | 871,000 | — | 1,407,000 | 0.62 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 498,158 t USD 164 m
- Exporter rank
- 29 of 102
- Imports
- 2.0 million t USD 538 m
- Importer rank
- 29 of 176
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 wheat in South Africa?
South Africa produced 1.9 million t in 2024, 0.24% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of wheat?
South Africa ranked 40th of 122 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 17.5% of the world total.
How has the production of wheat in South Africa changed?
It rose by 10.0% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.1% for the world. The record was 3.6 million t in 1988.
What is the yield of wheat in South Africa?
3.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (1.9 million t from 505,300 ha), against a world average of 3.6 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import wheat?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 498,158 t (USD 164 m) and imports of 2.0 million t (USD 538 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.