Egg production in South Africa
South Africa: Egg production was 433,000 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
433,000 tonnes
Change on year
down 9.8%
World rank
35th
of 198 countries
All-time high
594,000 tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
63,400 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Egg production in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, egg production in South Africa stood at 433,000 tonnes.
The figure is down 9.8% on the previous year and down 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, egg production in South Africa peaked at 594,000 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 63,400 tonnes, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 35th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Egg production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 63,400 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 66,100 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 67,300 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 68,400 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 90,490 tonnes | +32.3% |
| 1966 | 100,000 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1967 | 106,230 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1968 | 115,600 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1969 | 125,570 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1970 | 111,560 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 1971 | 107,300 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1972 | 110,940 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 117,230 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1974 | 140,670 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1975 | 154,170 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1976 | 137,548 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 1977 | 138,835 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 141,291 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 151,855 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1980 | 164,000 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1981 | 162,000 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 188,000 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1983 | 174,000 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1984 | 179,000 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 179,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 195,000 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1987 | 201,000 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 225,000 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1989 | 209,312 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1990 | 212,701 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 232,000 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 238,000 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 235,000 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 251,000 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 290,000 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1996 | 282,000 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 314,000 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1998 | 323,000 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 318,000 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 329,000 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 330,000 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 340,000 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 328,000 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 348,000 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 375,000 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2006 | 412,000 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 438,000 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 426,000 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 404,000 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 413,000 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 452,000 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 477,000 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 468,000 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 453,000 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 523,086 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 2016 | 477,934 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 445,099 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 475,615 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 565,000 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 2020 | 594,000 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 549,000 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2022 | 562,000 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 480,000 tonnes | -14.6% |
| 2024 | 433,000 tonnes | -9.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 433,000 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 70,317 tonnes, 6.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 433,000 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11,590 tonnes, 37.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 89,232 tonnes | 63,400 tonnes | 125,570 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 131,140 tonnes | 107,300 tonnes | 154,170 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 187,631 tonnes | 162,000 tonnes | 225,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 269,570 tonnes | 212,701 tonnes | 323,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 373,000 tonnes | 328,000 tonnes | 438,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 474,973 tonnes | 413,000 tonnes | 565,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 523,600 tonnes | 433,000 tonnes | 594,000 tonnes | 5 |
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 egg production in South Africa?
- Egg production in South Africa was 433,000 tonnes in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest egg production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 594,000 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest egg production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 63,400 tonnes in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for egg production?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is egg production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Egg production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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