Daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods in South Africa
South Africa: Daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods was 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
36.51 grams of protein per day per capita
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
113th
of 192 countries
All-time high
39.18 grams of protein per day per capita
in 2019
All-time low
21.67 grams of protein per day per capita
in 1986
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of protein per day per capita.
Analysis
The most recent figure for daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods in South Africa is 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods in South Africa peaked at 39.18 grams of protein per day per capita in 2019 and was at its lowest, 21.67 grams of protein per day per capita, in 1986.
That places South Africa 113th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods in South Africa, year by year
| Year | grams of protein per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 24.99 grams of protein per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 24.54 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 24.49 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 24.23 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 26.84 grams of protein per day per capita | +10.8% |
| 1966 | 26.71 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 27.2 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 26.67 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 26.38 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 25.35 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.9% |
| 1971 | 25.72 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 26.27 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 27.09 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 27.77 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 28.37 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 26.92 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.1% |
| 1977 | 26.14 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 25.95 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 26.31 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 25.36 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 25.22 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 25.02 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 24.39 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 24.1 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 23.14 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 21.67 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.3% |
| 1987 | 23.53 grams of protein per day per capita | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 22.92 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.6% |
| 1989 | 21.99 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 24.03 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 22.72 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 23.79 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 23.01 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 23.14 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 23.11 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 22.38 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 23.75 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 22.31 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 22.5 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 24.71 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.8% |
| 2001 | 24.28 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 24.86 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 25.63 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 27.29 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 28.4 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 29.95 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 31.56 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 32.67 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 32.14 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 35.29 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 35.77 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 36.7 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 36.89 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 38.51 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 38.38 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 39 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 37.35 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 38.08 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 39.18 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 39.04 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 38.37 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 37.47 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.79 grams of protein per day per capita | 24.23 grams of protein per day per capita | 27.2 grams of protein per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 26.59 grams of protein per day per capita | 25.35 grams of protein per day per capita | 28.37 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.73 grams of protein per day per capita | 21.67 grams of protein per day per capita | 25.36 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.07 grams of protein per day per capita | 22.31 grams of protein per day per capita | 24.03 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.15 grams of protein per day per capita | 24.28 grams of protein per day per capita | 32.67 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.52 grams of protein per day per capita | 35.29 grams of protein per day per capita | 39.18 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.85 grams of protein per day per capita | 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita | 39.04 grams of protein per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 110 Belize 40.04 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 111 Azerbaijan 38.65 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 112 El Salvador 36.98 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 114 Republic of Moldova 34.99 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 115 Congo 34.8 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 116 Tunisia 34.12 grams of protein 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 daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods in South Africa?
- Daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods in South Africa was 36.51 grams of protein 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 daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39.18 grams of protein per day per capita in 2019.
- What is the lowest daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.67 grams of protein per day per capita in 1986.
- How does South Africa rank for daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods?
- South Africa ranks 113th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Daily protein supply from animal and plant-based foods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.