Poultry production in South Africa
South Africa: Poultry production was 1.92 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.92 million tonnes
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
18th
of 199 countries
All-time high
1.96 million tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
34,927 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Poultry 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, poultry production in South Africa stood at 1.92 million tonnes.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poultry production in South Africa peaked at 1.96 million tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 34,927 tonnes, in 1961.
That places South Africa 18th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Poultry production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 34,927 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 40,576 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1963 | 44,824 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1964 | 51,872 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1965 | 58,921 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1966 | 69,287 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1967 | 80,013 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1968 | 91,259 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1969 | 101,105 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1970 | 107,502 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 111,530 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1972 | 129,933 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1973 | 155,346 tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1974 | 150,930 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 173,814 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1976 | 198,648 tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1977 | 199,343 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 213,362 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1979 | 215,356 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 235,450 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1981 | 247,105 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 265,846 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 292,102 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1984 | 297,262 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 318,814 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 333,814 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 343,814 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 353,854 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 363,894 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 537,938 tonnes | +47.8% |
| 1991 | 502,978 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 498,978 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 526,971 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 562,091 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 604,232 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1996 | 653,366 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 696,479 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 669,576 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 710,756 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 821,420 tonnes | +15.6% |
| 2001 | 897,762 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2002 | 930,050 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 904,960 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 912,355 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 955,265 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 977,375 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 1.13 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 1.33 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 2009 | 1.39 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 1.48 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 1.49 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 1.50 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 1.68 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 1.72 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 1.73 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 1.68 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 1.67 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 1.75 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 1.82 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 1.89 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 1.92 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 1.96 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 1.87 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 1.92 million tonnes | +3.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.92 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 135,580 tonnes, 14.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.92 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18,575 tonnes, 103.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Poultry production 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +47.8% | 363,894 tonnes | 537,938 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 63,643 tonnes | 34,927 tonnes | 101,105 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 165,576 tonnes | 107,502 tonnes | 215,356 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 305,196 tonnes | 235,450 tonnes | 363,894 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 596,336 tonnes | 498,978 tonnes | 710,756 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.03 million tonnes | 821,420 tonnes | 1.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.65 million tonnes | 1.48 million tonnes | 1.82 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.91 million tonnes | 1.87 million tonnes | 1.96 million 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 poultry production in South Africa?
- Poultry production in South Africa was 1.92 million 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 poultry production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.96 million tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest poultry production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34,927 tonnes in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for poultry production?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is poultry production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. 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 Poultry production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Expressed in tonnes.