Minimum daily requirement of calories in South Africa
South Africa: Minimum daily requirement of calories was 1,849 kilocalories per person per day in 2024. ▬ Flat
Minimum daily requirement of calories in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per person per day.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1,849 kilocalories per person per day for minimum daily requirement of calories in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, minimum daily requirement of calories in South Africa peaked at 1,862 kilocalories per person per day in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,823 kilocalories per person per day, in 2000.
That places South Africa 96th out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,844 kilocalories per person per day | 1,823 kilocalories per person per day | 1,853 kilocalories per person per day | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,849 kilocalories per person per day | 1,832 kilocalories per person per day | 1,862 kilocalories per person per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,847 kilocalories per person per day | 1,844 kilocalories per person per day | 1,849 kilocalories per person per day | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is minimum daily requirement of calories in South Africa?
- Minimum daily requirement of calories in South Africa was 1,849 kilocalories per person per day 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 minimum daily requirement of calories recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,862 kilocalories per person per day in 2015.
- What is the lowest minimum daily requirement of calories recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,823 kilocalories per person per day in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for minimum daily requirement of calories?
- South Africa ranks 96th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is minimum daily requirement of calories rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Minimum daily requirement of calories. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The minimum amount of daily dietary energy per person that is considered adequate to ensure they maintain a minimum weight for health. Across a population, this takes factors such as the age, sex, height, and activity levels of different individuals into account.