Barley production in South Africa
South Africa: Barley production was 374,000 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
374,000 tonnes
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
42nd
of 106 countries
All-time high
588,000 tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
20,000 tonnes
in 1969
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Barley 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, barley production in South Africa stood at 374,000 tonnes.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, barley production in South Africa peaked at 588,000 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 20,000 tonnes, in 1969.
South Africa ranks 42nd of 106 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Barley production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 36,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 43,000 tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1963 | 37,000 tonnes | -14.0% |
| 1964 | 47,000 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 1965 | 35,000 tonnes | -25.5% |
| 1966 | 38,000 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1967 | 51,000 tonnes | +34.2% |
| 1968 | 37,000 tonnes | -27.5% |
| 1969 | 20,000 tonnes | -45.9% |
| 1970 | 33,000 tonnes | +65.0% |
| 1971 | 32,000 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1972 | 33,000 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 32,000 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1974 | 63,000 tonnes | +96.9% |
| 1975 | 69,000 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1976 | 73,000 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 106,000 tonnes | +45.2% |
| 1978 | 135,000 tonnes | +27.4% |
| 1979 | 141,000 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 60,000 tonnes | -57.4% |
| 1981 | 106,000 tonnes | +76.7% |
| 1982 | 110,000 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 154,000 tonnes | +40.0% |
| 1984 | 173,000 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1985 | 256,000 tonnes | +48.0% |
| 1986 | 199,000 tonnes | -22.3% |
| 1987 | 280,000 tonnes | +40.7% |
| 1988 | 126,000 tonnes | -55.0% |
| 1989 | 266,000 tonnes | +111.1% |
| 1990 | 262,000 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 170,000 tonnes | -35.1% |
| 1992 | 269,000 tonnes | +58.2% |
| 1993 | 233,000 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1994 | 275,000 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1995 | 300,000 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 176,000 tonnes | -41.3% |
| 1997 | 182,000 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 215,160 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1999 | 90,800 tonnes | -57.8% |
| 2000 | 142,390 tonnes | +56.8% |
| 2001 | 141,100 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 183,770 tonnes | +30.2% |
| 2003 | 240,000 tonnes | +30.6% |
| 2004 | 185,000 tonnes | -22.9% |
| 2005 | 225,000 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 2006 | 236,000 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 222,500 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 192,000 tonnes | -13.7% |
| 2009 | 216,000 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 2010 | 194,000 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2011 | 312,000 tonnes | +60.8% |
| 2012 | 298,000 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 267,500 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 302,000 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 2015 | 332,000 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2016 | 355,000 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2017 | 307,000 tonnes | -13.5% |
| 2018 | 421,500 tonnes | +37.3% |
| 2019 | 345,000 tonnes | -18.1% |
| 2020 | 588,000 tonnes | +70.4% |
| 2021 | 334,000 tonnes | -43.2% |
| 2022 | 302,000 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2023 | 377,000 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 2024 | 374,000 tonnes | -0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 374,000 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 195,716 tonnes, 1.9× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 374,000 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8,154 tonnes, 45.9× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 38,222 tonnes | 20,000 tonnes | 51,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 71,700 tonnes | 32,000 tonnes | 141,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 173,000 tonnes | 60,000 tonnes | 280,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 217,296 tonnes | 90,800 tonnes | 300,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 198,376 tonnes | 141,100 tonnes | 240,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 313,400 tonnes | 194,000 tonnes | 421,500 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 395,000 tonnes | 302,000 tonnes | 588,000 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 barley production in South Africa?
- Barley production in South Africa was 374,000 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 barley production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 588,000 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest barley production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,000 tonnes in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for barley production?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 106 countries with data for 2024.
- Is barley production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.8%. 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 Barley 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
Barley production is measured in tonnes.