Dietary composition by country in South Africa
South Africa: Dietary composition by country was 0 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0 kilocalories per day per capita
World rank
178th
of 191 countries
All-time high
3.73 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1986
All-time low
0 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Dietary composition by country 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
In 2023, dietary composition by country in South Africa stood at 0 kilocalories per day per capita. That is the lowest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, dietary composition by country in South Africa peaked at 3.73 kilocalories per day per capita in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1961.
That places South Africa 178th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Dietary composition by country in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1963 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1964 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1965 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1966 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1967 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1968 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1969 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1970 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1971 | 1.01 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1972 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1973 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1974 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1975 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1976 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1977 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1978 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1979 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1980 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1981 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1982 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1983 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1984 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1985 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1986 | 3.73 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1987 | 2.77 kilocalories per day per capita | -25.7% |
| 1988 | 0.9146 kilocalories per day per capita | -67.0% |
| 1989 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1990 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1991 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1992 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1993 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1994 | 0.9218 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1995 | 0.9301 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 1997 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1998 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1999 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2000 | 0.9509 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2001 | 0.9568 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 0.9619 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 0.9664 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 0.9706 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 0.9746 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 0.9784 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 0.9817 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 0.9834 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 0.9838 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3.65 kilocalories per day per capita | +271.0% |
| 2011 | 3.53 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 3.5 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 0.25 kilocalories per day per capita | -92.9% |
| 2014 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 2015 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2016 | 0.08 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2017 | 0.02 kilocalories per day per capita | -75.0% |
| 2018 | 0.1 kilocalories per day per capita | +400.0% |
| 2019 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 0.03 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2021 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 2023 | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.84 kilocalories per day per capita. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.79 kilocalories per day per capita. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Dietary composition by country in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +400.0% | 0.02 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.1 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 2010 | +271.0% | 0.9838 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.65 kilocalories per day per capita |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.1007 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.01 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7414 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.73 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1852 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.9301 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9709 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.9509 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.9838 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.11 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.65 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0075 kilocalories per day per capita | 0 kilocalories per day per capita | 0.03 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 175 Tanzania 0.49 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 176 Austria 0.38 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 177 Pakistan 0.18 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Brazil 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Croatia 0 kilocalories per day per capita
- 178 Denmark 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Germany 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 India 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Indonesia 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Mexico 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Netherlands 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Poland 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Serbia 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 South Korea 0 kilocalories per day per capita
- 178 Spain 0 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 Thailand 0 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 dietary composition by country in South Africa?
- Dietary composition by country in South Africa was 0 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 dietary composition by country recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.73 kilocalories per day per capita in 1986.
- What is the lowest dietary composition by country recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilocalories per day per capita in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for dietary composition by country?
- South Africa ranks 178th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is dietary composition by country rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. 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) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Dietary composition by country. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.