Rye production in South Africa
South Africa: Rye production was 1,957 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Rye 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, rye production in South Africa stood at 1,957 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rye production in South Africa peaked at 15,000 tonnes in 1964 and was at its lowest, 230 tonnes, in 2003.
That places South Africa 50th out of 66 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rye production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 8,890 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 7,000 tonnes | -21.3% |
| 1963 | 12,000 tonnes | +71.4% |
| 1964 | 15,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1965 | 9,000 tonnes | -40.0% |
| 1966 | 7,711 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1967 | 12,701 tonnes | +64.7% |
| 1968 | 7,000 tonnes | -44.9% |
| 1969 | 7,300 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 7,000 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 6,000 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1972 | 7,000 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1973 | 6,000 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1974 | 5,000 tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1975 | 4,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1976 | 4,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 4,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3,000 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 1979 | 6,000 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 1980 | 4,000 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 1981 | 7,000 tonnes | +75.0% |
| 1982 | 7,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 6,000 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1984 | 6,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 2,000 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1986 | 2,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 2,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3,000 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1990 | 3,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 4,000 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1992 | 2,000 tonnes | -50.0% |
| 1993 | 3,000 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1994 | 3,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2,952 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 3,366 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1997 | 3,200 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 3,000 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 3,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1,200 tonnes | -60.0% |
| 2001 | 1,630 tonnes | +35.8% |
| 2002 | 700 tonnes | -57.1% |
| 2003 | 230 tonnes | -67.1% |
| 2004 | 620 tonnes | +169.6% |
| 2005 | 1,400 tonnes | +125.8% |
| 2006 | 3,000 tonnes | +114.3% |
| 2007 | 3,100 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 3,000 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 2,000 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 2010 | 1,898 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 2,163 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 2012 | 2,272 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 2,318 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 2,074 tonnes | -10.5% |
| 2015 | 1,843 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 2,078 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 1,914 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 1,945 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 1,979 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 1,946 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 1,957 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 1,961 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 1,954 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 1,957 tonnes | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1,957 tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,912 tonnes, 50% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rye 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +169.6% | 230 tonnes | 620 tonnes |
| 2005 | +125.8% | 620 tonnes | 1,400 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9,622 tonnes | 7,000 tonnes | 15,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 5,200 tonnes | 3,000 tonnes | 7,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,100 tonnes | 2,000 tonnes | 7,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,052 tonnes | 2,000 tonnes | 4,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,688 tonnes | 230 tonnes | 3,100 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,048 tonnes | 1,843 tonnes | 2,318 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,955 tonnes | 1,946 tonnes | 1,961 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 rye production in South Africa?
- Rye production in South Africa was 1,957 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 rye production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15,000 tonnes in 1964.
- What is the lowest rye production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 230 tonnes in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for rye production?
- South Africa ranks 50th out of 66 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rye production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. 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 Rye 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
Rye production is measured in tonnes.