Daily supply of calories per person in South Africa
South Africa: Daily supply of calories per person was 2,694 kilocalories per day in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
2,694 kilocalories per day
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
136th
of 192 countries
All-time high
2,973 kilocalories per day
in 1965
All-time low
2,422 kilocalories per day
in 1947
Years of data
65
1947–2023
Daily supply of calories per person in South Africa, 1947–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per day.
Analysis
The most recent figure for daily supply of calories per person in South Africa is 2,694 kilocalories per day, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, daily supply of calories per person in South Africa peaked at 2,973 kilocalories per day in 1965 and was at its lowest, 2,422 kilocalories per day, in 1947.
That places South Africa 136th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Daily supply of calories per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 2,422 kilocalories per day | — |
| 1948 | 2,517 kilocalories per day | +3.9% |
| 1961 | 2,820 kilocalories per day | +12.0% |
| 1962 | 2,751 kilocalories per day | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 2,855 kilocalories per day | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 2,876 kilocalories per day | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 2,973 kilocalories per day | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 2,847 kilocalories per day | -4.2% |
| 1967 | 2,774 kilocalories per day | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 2,807 kilocalories per day | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 2,833 kilocalories per day | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 2,845 kilocalories per day | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 2,807 kilocalories per day | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 2,874 kilocalories per day | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 2,913 kilocalories per day | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 2,882 kilocalories per day | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 2,898 kilocalories per day | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 2,847 kilocalories per day | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 2,830 kilocalories per day | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 2,830 kilocalories per day | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 2,791 kilocalories per day | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 2,819 kilocalories per day | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 2,765 kilocalories per day | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 2,819 kilocalories per day | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 2,724 kilocalories per day | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 2,701 kilocalories per day | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 2,717 kilocalories per day | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 2,630 kilocalories per day | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 2,702 kilocalories per day | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 2,629 kilocalories per day | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 2,566 kilocalories per day | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 2,555 kilocalories per day | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 2,546 kilocalories per day | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 2,546 kilocalories per day | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 2,597 kilocalories per day | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 2,605 kilocalories per day | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 2,614 kilocalories per day | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 2,615 kilocalories per day | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 2,645 kilocalories per day | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 2,683 kilocalories per day | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 2,681 kilocalories per day | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 2,744 kilocalories per day | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 2,783 kilocalories per day | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 2,795 kilocalories per day | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 2,830 kilocalories per day | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 2,854 kilocalories per day | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 2,877 kilocalories per day | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 2,864 kilocalories per day | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 2,867 kilocalories per day | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 2,876 kilocalories per day | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 2,888 kilocalories per day | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 2,867 kilocalories per day | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 2,872 kilocalories per day | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 2,891 kilocalories per day | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 2,871 kilocalories per day | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 2,839 kilocalories per day | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 2,801 kilocalories per day | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 2,819 kilocalories per day | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 2,835 kilocalories per day | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 2,826 kilocalories per day | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 2,789 kilocalories per day | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 2,760 kilocalories per day | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 2,686 kilocalories per day | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 2,724 kilocalories per day | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 2,694 kilocalories per day | -1.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2,694 kilocalories per day is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,000 kilocalories per day, 90% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2,694 kilocalories per day is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,518 kilocalories per day, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 2,470 kilocalories per day | 2,422 kilocalories per day | 2,517 kilocalories per day | 2 |
| 1960s | 2,837 kilocalories per day | 2,751 kilocalories per day | 2,973 kilocalories per day | 9 |
| 1970s | 2,852 kilocalories per day | 2,791 kilocalories per day | 2,913 kilocalories per day | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,707 kilocalories per day | 2,566 kilocalories per day | 2,819 kilocalories per day | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,609 kilocalories per day | 2,546 kilocalories per day | 2,683 kilocalories per day | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,838 kilocalories per day | 2,744 kilocalories per day | 2,888 kilocalories per day | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,841 kilocalories per day | 2,789 kilocalories per day | 2,891 kilocalories per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,716 kilocalories per day | 2,686 kilocalories per day | 2,760 kilocalories per day | 4 |
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 daily supply of calories per person in South Africa?
- Daily supply of calories per person in South Africa was 2,694 kilocalories per day in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest daily supply of calories per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,973 kilocalories per day in 1965.
- What is the lowest daily supply of calories per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,422 kilocalories per day in 1947.
- How does South Africa rank for daily supply of calories per person?
- South Africa ranks 136th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is daily supply of calories per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. 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) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Daily supply of calories per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in kilocalories per person per day. This indicates the calories that are available for consumption, but does not necessarily measure the number of calories actually consumed, since it doesn't factor in consumer waste.