Protein supply from animal foods vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Protein supply from animal foods vs. GDP per capita was 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
36.51 grams of protein per day per capita
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
113th
of 192 countries
All-time high
39.18 grams of protein per day per capita
in 2019
All-time low
21.67 grams of protein per day per capita
in 1986
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Protein supply from animal foods vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of protein per day per capita.
Analysis
The most recent figure for protein supply from animal foods vs. gdp per capita in South Africa is 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, protein supply from animal foods vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 39.18 grams of protein per day per capita in 2019 and was at its lowest, 21.67 grams of protein per day per capita, in 1986.
South Africa ranks 113th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Protein supply from animal foods vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | grams of protein per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 24.99 grams of protein per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 24.54 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 24.49 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 24.23 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 26.84 grams of protein per day per capita | +10.8% |
| 1966 | 26.71 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 27.2 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 26.67 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 26.38 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 25.35 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.9% |
| 1971 | 25.72 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 26.27 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 27.09 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 27.77 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 28.37 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 26.92 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.1% |
| 1977 | 26.14 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 25.95 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 26.31 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 25.36 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 25.22 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 25.02 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 24.39 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 24.1 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 23.14 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 21.67 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.3% |
| 1987 | 23.53 grams of protein per day per capita | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 22.92 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.6% |
| 1989 | 21.99 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 24.03 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 22.72 grams of protein per day per capita | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 23.79 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 23.01 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 23.14 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 23.11 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 22.38 grams of protein per day per capita | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 23.75 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 22.31 grams of protein per day per capita | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 22.5 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 24.71 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.8% |
| 2001 | 24.28 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 24.86 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 25.63 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 27.29 grams of protein per day per capita | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 28.4 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 29.95 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 31.56 grams of protein per day per capita | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 32.67 grams of protein per day per capita | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 32.14 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 35.29 grams of protein per day per capita | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 35.77 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 36.7 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 36.89 grams of protein per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 38.51 grams of protein per day per capita | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 38.38 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 39 grams of protein per day per capita | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 37.35 grams of protein per day per capita | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 38.08 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 39.18 grams of protein per day per capita | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 39.04 grams of protein per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 38.37 grams of protein per day per capita | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 37.47 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita | -2.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 45.8 grams of protein per day per capita, 80% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.05 grams of protein per day per capita, 2.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.79 grams of protein per day per capita | 24.23 grams of protein per day per capita | 27.2 grams of protein per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 26.59 grams of protein per day per capita | 25.35 grams of protein per day per capita | 28.37 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.73 grams of protein per day per capita | 21.67 grams of protein per day per capita | 25.36 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.07 grams of protein per day per capita | 22.31 grams of protein per day per capita | 24.03 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.15 grams of protein per day per capita | 24.28 grams of protein per day per capita | 32.67 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.52 grams of protein per day per capita | 35.29 grams of protein per day per capita | 39.18 grams of protein per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.85 grams of protein per day per capita | 36.51 grams of protein per day per capita | 39.04 grams of protein per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 110 Belize 40.04 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 111 Azerbaijan 38.65 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 112 El Salvador 36.98 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 114 Moldova 34.99 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 115 Congo 34.8 grams of protein per day per capita compare
- 116 Tunisia 34.12 grams of protein per day per capita compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is protein supply from animal foods vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Protein supply from animal foods vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 36.51 grams of protein 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 protein supply from animal foods vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39.18 grams of protein per day per capita in 2019.
- What is the lowest protein supply from animal foods vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.67 grams of protein per day per capita in 1986.
- How does South Africa rank for protein supply from animal foods vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 113th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is protein supply from animal foods vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Protein supply from animal foods vs. GDP per capita. 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.