Apple production in South Africa
South Africa: Apple production was 1.33 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.33 million tonnes
Change on year
up 10.7%
World rank
12th
of 97 countries
All-time high
1.33 million tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
95,844 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Apple production in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, apple production in South Africa stood at 1.33 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
The figure is up 10.7% on the previous year and up 70.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, apple production in South Africa peaked at 1.33 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 95,844 tonnes, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 12th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Apple production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 95,844 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 105,931 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1963 | 116,240 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1964 | 149,158 tonnes | +28.3% |
| 1965 | 139,035 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1966 | 190,756 tonnes | +37.2% |
| 1967 | 183,294 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1968 | 212,054 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1969 | 207,502 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 222,255 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1971 | 243,170 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1972 | 317,737 tonnes | +30.7% |
| 1973 | 283,891 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1974 | 283,613 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 355,683 tonnes | +25.4% |
| 1976 | 371,019 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 281,373 tonnes | -24.2% |
| 1978 | 381,429 tonnes | +35.6% |
| 1979 | 363,464 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1980 | 426,430 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1981 | 394,164 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1982 | 460,987 tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1983 | 359,547 tonnes | -22.0% |
| 1984 | 483,696 tonnes | +34.5% |
| 1985 | 402,231 tonnes | -16.8% |
| 1986 | 439,836 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1987 | 391,556 tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1988 | 554,742 tonnes | +41.7% |
| 1989 | 508,202 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1990 | 430,344 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 1991 | 515,074 tonnes | +19.7% |
| 1992 | 521,421 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 595,483 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1994 | 550,901 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1995 | 512,460 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1996 | 616,521 tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1997 | 538,434 tonnes | -12.7% |
| 1998 | 576,264 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 623,676 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2000 | 601,966 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 615,794 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 623,307 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 817,167 tonnes | +31.1% |
| 2004 | 765,359 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 678,842 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2006 | 633,495 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 708,430 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 2008 | 778,141 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2009 | 817,698 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 724,232 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 2011 | 781,124 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 795,758 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 903,843 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 2014 | 777,741 tonnes | -14.0% |
| 2015 | 934,375 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 2016 | 916,143 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 929,028 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 829,636 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 895,399 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 998,785 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 2021 | 1.15 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 2022 | 1.23 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 1.20 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 1.33 million tonnes | +10.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.33 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 121,820 tonnes, 10.9× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.33 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6,583 tonnes, 201.7× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 155,535 tonnes | 95,844 tonnes | 212,054 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 310,363 tonnes | 222,255 tonnes | 381,429 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 442,139 tonnes | 359,547 tonnes | 554,742 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 548,058 tonnes | 430,344 tonnes | 623,676 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 704,020 tonnes | 601,966 tonnes | 817,698 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 848,728 tonnes | 724,232 tonnes | 934,375 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.18 million tonnes | 998,785 tonnes | 1.33 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is apple production in South Africa?
- Apple production in South Africa was 1.33 million tonnes in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest apple production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.33 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest apple production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 95,844 tonnes in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for apple production?
- South Africa ranks 12th out of 97 countries with data for 2024.
- Is apple production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Apple production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Apple production is measured in tonnes.