What is the highest dietary compositions by commodity group recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 44.31 kilocalories per day per capita in 2021.

What is the lowest dietary compositions by commodity group recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 15.13 kilocalories per day per capita in 1999.

How does South Africa rank for dietary compositions by commodity group?

South Africa ranks 129th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.

Is dietary compositions by commodity group rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is up 28.7%. 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 Dietary compositions by commodity group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Dietary compositions by commodity group in South Africa

Name: Dietary compositions by commodity group in South Africa
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Dietary compositions by commodity group was 40.09 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)

40.09 kilocalories per day per capita

Change on year

up 0.5%

World rank

129th

of 191 countries

All-time high

44.31 kilocalories per day per capita

in 2021

All-time low

15.13 kilocalories per day per capita

in 1999

Years of data

1961–2023

Dietary compositions by commodity 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

In 2023, dietary compositions by commodity group in South Africa stood at 40.09 kilocalories per day per capita.

That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 28.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, dietary compositions by commodity group in South Africa peaked at 44.31 kilocalories per day per capita in 2021 and was at its lowest, 15.13 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1999.

South Africa ranks 129th of 191 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	23.04 kilocalories per day per capita	21.42 kilocalories per day per capita	24.19 kilocalories per day per capita	9
1970s	22.52 kilocalories per day per capita	20.92 kilocalories per day per capita	24.17 kilocalories per day per capita	10
1980s	19.78 kilocalories per day per capita	16.34 kilocalories per day per capita	21.44 kilocalories per day per capita	10
1990s	16.08 kilocalories per day per capita	15.13 kilocalories per day per capita	17.16 kilocalories per day per capita	10
2000s	22.75 kilocalories per day per capita	18.07 kilocalories per day per capita	26.56 kilocalories per day per capita	10
2010s	33.35 kilocalories per day per capita	27.59 kilocalories per day per capita	37.95 kilocalories per day per capita	10
2020s	40.98 kilocalories per day per capita	39.62 kilocalories per day per capita	44.31 kilocalories per day per capita	4

Countries ranked near South Africa

126 Ethiopia 41.08 kilocalories per day per capita compare
127 Russia 41 kilocalories per day per capita compare
128 Dominican Republic 40.77 kilocalories per day per capita compare
130 Jordan 39.7 kilocalories per day per capita compare
131 Ghana 39.66 kilocalories per day per capita compare
132 Zimbabwe 39.45 kilocalories per day per capita compare

See the full ranking of 192 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is dietary compositions by commodity group in South Africa?: Dietary compositions by commodity group in South Africa was 40.09 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 compositions by commodity group recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 44.31 kilocalories per day per capita in 2021.
What is the lowest dietary compositions by commodity group recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 15.13 kilocalories per day per capita in 1999.
How does South Africa rank for dietary compositions by commodity group?: South Africa ranks 129th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
Is dietary compositions by commodity group rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is up 28.7%. 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 Dietary compositions by commodity group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator: Dietary compositions by commodity group
Unit: kilocalories per day per capita
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 192 places, 10,214 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Average per capita dietary energy supply by commodity groups, measured in kilocalories per person per day.