Tobacco production in South Africa
South Africa: Tobacco production was 11,231 tonnes in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tobacco 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
The most recent figure for tobacco production in South Africa is 11,231 tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 18.0% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tobacco production in South Africa peaked at 47,707 tonnes in 1979 and was at its lowest, 9,041 tonnes, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 36th of 145 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 29,183 tonnes | 22,100 tonnes | 38,150 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 35,251 tonnes | 27,500 tonnes | 47,707 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 33,386 tonnes | 27,200 tonnes | 38,690 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 27,262 tonnes | 19,460 tonnes | 34,980 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,913 tonnes | 9,041 tonnes | 37,400 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,687 tonnes | 12,300 tonnes | 17,010 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,469 tonnes | 9,514 tonnes | 15,100 tonnes | 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 tobacco production in South Africa?
- Tobacco production in South Africa was 11,231 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 tobacco production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47,707 tonnes in 1979.
- What is the lowest tobacco production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,041 tonnes in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for tobacco production?
- South Africa ranks 36th out of 145 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tobacco production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tobacco 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
Tobacco production is measured in tonnes.