Agricultural population in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural population was 4.62 million FAO, number in 2012. ▼ Falling
Agricultural population in South Africa, 1980–2012
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in FAO, number.
Analysis
In 2012, agricultural population in South Africa stood at 4.62 million FAO, number. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural population in South Africa peaked at 7.25 million FAO, number in 1985 and was at its lowest, 4.62 million FAO, number, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 29th of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Agricultural population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | FAO, number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.13 million FAO, number | — |
| 1981 | 7.16 million FAO, number | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 7.20 million FAO, number | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 7.23 million FAO, number | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 7.24 million FAO, number | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 7.25 million FAO, number | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 7.24 million FAO, number | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 7.21 million FAO, number | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 7.18 million FAO, number | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 7.14 million FAO, number | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 7.11 million FAO, number | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 7.05 million FAO, number | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 7.00 million FAO, number | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 6.95 million FAO, number | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 6.88 million FAO, number | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 6.79 million FAO, number | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 6.69 million FAO, number | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 6.57 million FAO, number | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 6.45 million FAO, number | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 6.33 million FAO, number | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 6.20 million FAO, number | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 6.08 million FAO, number | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 5.96 million FAO, number | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 5.83 million FAO, number | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 5.70 million FAO, number | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 5.57 million FAO, number | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 5.43 million FAO, number | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 5.31 million FAO, number | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 5.17 million FAO, number | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 5.04 million FAO, number | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 4.90 million FAO, number | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 4.76 million FAO, number | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 4.62 million FAO, number | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.20 million FAO, number | 7.13 million FAO, number | 7.25 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.78 million FAO, number | 6.33 million FAO, number | 7.11 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.63 million FAO, number | 5.04 million FAO, number | 6.20 million FAO, number | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.76 million FAO, number | 4.62 million FAO, number | 4.90 million FAO, number | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Newsprint — Import quantity, gaps filled 34,979 t (2024)
- Newsprint — Import quantity, annual growth rate 115.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Newsprint — Import value, gaps filled 21,013 1000 USD (2024)
- Newsprint — Import value, annual growth rate 78.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Printing and writing papers — Import quantity, annual growth rate 36.55 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural population in South Africa?
- Agricultural population in South Africa was 4.62 million FAO, number in 2012, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest agricultural population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.25 million FAO, number in 1985.
- What is the lowest agricultural population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.62 million FAO, number in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural population?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 53 countries with data for 2012.
- Is agricultural population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.4%. 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, electronic files and web site, published as part of Agricultural population (FAO, number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The Agricultural Population is defined as all persons depending for their livelihood on agriculture, hunting, fishing or forestry. This estimate comprises all persons actively engaged in agriculture and their non-working dependants. The Agricultural Population series are estimated by FAO based on the total population series obtained from UN Population Division ("World population prospects: The 2008 Revision") and the ratios of labour force in total population and agricultural labour force in total labour force from ILO: ("Economically active population, 1950-2010: The 4th Revision", ILO, Geneva, 1996). Direct information on agricultural population derived from national population censuses or surveys is scarce.