Calorie supply by food group in South Africa
South Africa: Calorie supply by food group was 2,267 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
2,267 kilocalories per day per capita
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
124th
of 192 countries
All-time high
2,500 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1965
All-time low
2,196 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1990
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Calorie supply by food group in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per day per capita.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2,267 kilocalories per day per capita for calorie supply by food group in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, calorie supply by food group in South Africa peaked at 2,500 kilocalories per day per capita in 1965 and was at its lowest, 2,196 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1990.
That places South Africa 124th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Calorie supply by food group in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2,387 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 2,319 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 2,437 kilocalories per day per capita | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 2,451 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 2,500 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 2,383 kilocalories per day per capita | -4.7% |
| 1967 | 2,308 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.2% |
| 1968 | 2,345 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 2,377 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 2,408 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 2,365 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 2,439 kilocalories per day per capita | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 2,472 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 2,441 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 2,460 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 2,422 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 2,423 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 2,432 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 2,385 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 1980 | 2,424 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 2,358 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.7% |
| 1982 | 2,416 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 2,340 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 2,319 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 2,347 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 2,286 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.6% |
| 1987 | 2,338 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 2,263 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 2,218 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 2,196 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 2,204 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 2,197 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 2,260 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 2,261 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2,267 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 2,285 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 2,303 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 2,366 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 2,365 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 2,400 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 2,449 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 2,455 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 2,476 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 2,480 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 2,483 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 2,452 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 2,427 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 2,414 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 2,432 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 2,450 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 2,453 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 2,462 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 2,447 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 2,401 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 2,359 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 2,372 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 2,402 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 2,389 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 2,339 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 2,307 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 2,240 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 2,286 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 2,267 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2,267 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,399 kilocalories per day per capita, 95% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2,267 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,293 kilocalories per day per capita, 99% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,390 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,308 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,500 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 2,425 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,365 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,472 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,331 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,218 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,424 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,270 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,196 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,366 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,447 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,400 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,483 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,407 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,339 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,462 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,275 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,240 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,307 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 121 Gabon 2,281 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 122 Netherlands Antilles 2,280 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 123 Albania 2,269 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 125 Taiwan 2,262 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 126 Seychelles 2,262 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 127 Bulgaria 2,262 kilocalories per day per capita compare
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 calorie supply by food group in South Africa?
- Calorie supply by food group in South Africa was 2,267 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest calorie supply by food group recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,500 kilocalories per day per capita in 1965.
- What is the lowest calorie supply by food group recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,196 kilocalories per day per capita in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for calorie supply by food group?
- South Africa ranks 124th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is calorie supply by food group rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Calorie supply by food group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.