Daily supply of different food groups per person in South Africa
South Africa: Daily supply of different food groups per person was 439.48 grams per day per capita in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
439.48 grams per day per capita
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
78th
of 192 countries
All-time high
537.72 grams per day per capita
in 1965
All-time low
414.9 grams per day per capita
in 2021
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Daily supply of different food groups per person in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in grams per day per capita.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 439.48 grams per day per capita for daily supply of different food groups per person in 2023.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, daily supply of different food groups per person in South Africa peaked at 537.72 grams per day per capita in 1965 and was at its lowest, 414.9 grams per day per capita, in 2021.
That places South Africa 78th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Daily supply of different food groups per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | grams per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 519.41 grams per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 504.29 grams per day per capita | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 515.59 grams per day per capita | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 519.97 grams per day per capita | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 537.72 grams per day per capita | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 509.79 grams per day per capita | -5.2% |
| 1967 | 485.24 grams per day per capita | -4.8% |
| 1968 | 496.89 grams per day per capita | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 503.17 grams per day per capita | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 514.16 grams per day per capita | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 487.7 grams per day per capita | -5.1% |
| 1972 | 502.51 grams per day per capita | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 501.37 grams per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 491.02 grams per day per capita | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 491.52 grams per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 482.42 grams per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 501.48 grams per day per capita | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 507.54 grams per day per capita | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 502.04 grams per day per capita | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 500.64 grams per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 476.97 grams per day per capita | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 501.78 grams per day per capita | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 478.02 grams per day per capita | -4.7% |
| 1984 | 466.17 grams per day per capita | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 470.52 grams per day per capita | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 452.51 grams per day per capita | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 459.45 grams per day per capita | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 447.76 grams per day per capita | -2.5% |
| 1989 | 433.39 grams per day per capita | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 432.07 grams per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 433.52 grams per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 437.75 grams per day per capita | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 467.77 grams per day per capita | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 458.26 grams per day per capita | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 456.53 grams per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 458.56 grams per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 454.26 grams per day per capita | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 471.45 grams per day per capita | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 470.42 grams per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 487.69 grams per day per capita | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 490.21 grams per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 486.62 grams per day per capita | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 486.57 grams per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 493.48 grams per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 497.04 grams per day per capita | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 482.83 grams per day per capita | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 481.75 grams per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 470.91 grams per day per capita | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 466.69 grams per day per capita | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 478.16 grams per day per capita | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 481.18 grams per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 477.31 grams per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 480.36 grams per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 478.52 grams per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 467.73 grams per day per capita | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 472.9 grams per day per capita | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 476.69 grams per day per capita | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 482 grams per day per capita | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 444.66 grams per day per capita | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 432.69 grams per day per capita | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 414.9 grams per day per capita | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 426.79 grams per day per capita | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 439.48 grams per day per capita | +3.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 439.48 grams per day per capita is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 435.62 grams per day per capita, 1.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 439.48 grams per day per capita is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 412.44 grams per day per capita, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 510.23 grams per day per capita | 485.24 grams per day per capita | 537.72 grams per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 498.18 grams per day per capita | 482.42 grams per day per capita | 514.16 grams per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 468.72 grams per day per capita | 433.39 grams per day per capita | 501.78 grams per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 454.06 grams per day per capita | 432.07 grams per day per capita | 471.45 grams per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 484.38 grams per day per capita | 466.69 grams per day per capita | 497.04 grams per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 473.95 grams per day per capita | 444.66 grams per day per capita | 482 grams per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 428.47 grams per day per capita | 414.9 grams per day per capita | 439.48 grams per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 75 Venezuela 446.25 grams per day per capita compare
- 76 Belize 440.55 grams per day per capita compare
- 77 Bahrain 439.89 grams per day per capita compare
- 79 New Caledonia 437.17 grams per day per capita compare
- 80 El Salvador 435.62 grams per day per capita compare
- 81 Russia 435.48 grams 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 supply of different food groups per person in South Africa?
- Daily supply of different food groups per person in South Africa was 439.48 grams 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 supply of different food groups per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 537.72 grams per day per capita in 1965.
- What is the lowest daily supply of different food groups per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 414.9 grams per day per capita in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for daily supply of different food groups per person?
- South Africa ranks 78th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is daily supply of different food groups per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 supply of different food groups per person. 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.