Cotton lint production in Kenya
In 2023 Kenya produced 1,296 t of cotton lint, the 62nd largest in the world (0.01% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 69%. The record was 12,582 t in 1980.
- Production, 2023
- 1,296 t
- World rank
- 62 of 84
- 10-year change
- −69%
- Record
- 12,582 t
- 1980
Cotton lint in Kenya, 1961–2023 (tonnes)
Kenya compared with the world, 2023
- Share of world total
- 0.01%
- 0.02% in 2013
- 10-year change
- −69%
- world +0.2%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | Guinea-Bissau | 1,464 | 0.01% |
| 61 | Ecuador | 1,381 | 0.01% |
| 62 | Kenya | 1,296 | 0.01% |
| 63 | Angola | 1,100 | 0.00% |
| 64 | Honduras | 891 | 0.00% |
Map of world production of cotton lint
Share of the world total; Kenya is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,296 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 1,254 | +124% |
| 2021 | 559 | −72% |
| 2020 | 2,000 | −50% |
| 2019 | 4,000 | +100% |
| 2018 | 2,000 | −50% |
| 2017 | 4,000 | −20% |
| 2016 | 5,000 | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 5,000 | +25% |
| 2014 | 4,000 | −4.6% |
| 2013 | 4,193 | −16% |
| 2012 | 5,000 | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 5,000 | +25% |
| 2010 | 4,000 | −18% |
| 2009 | 4,900 | −2.0% |
| 2008 | 5,000 | −39% |
| 2007 | 8,250 | +11% |
| 2006 | 7,400 | +12% |
| 2005 | 6,600 | 0.0% |
| 2004 | 6,600 | 0.0% |
| 2003 | 6,600 | 0.0% |
| 2002 | 6,600 | −18% |
| 2001 | 8,000 | +21% |
| 2000 | 6,600 | −15% |
| 1999 | 7,800 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 7,700 | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 7,300 | −34% |
| 1996 | 11,000 | +38% |
| 1995 | 8,000 | +33% |
| 1994 | 6,000 | +12% |
| 1993 | 5,365 | −3.3% |
| 1992 | 5,550 | −45% |
| 1991 | 10,000 | +11% |
| 1990 | 9,000 | −2.6% |
| 1989 | 9,240 | +47% |
| 1988 | 6,270 | −18% |
| 1987 | 7,616 | −15% |
| 1986 | 9,000 | −28% |
| 1985 | 12,540 | +67% |
| 1984 | 7,524 | −12% |
| 1983 | 8,514 | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 8,038 | −4.4% |
| 1981 | 8,411 | −33% |
| 1980 | 12,582 | +38% |
| 1979 | 9,107 | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 8,970 | +31% |
| 1977 | 6,860 | +32% |
| 1976 | 5,215 | −2.0% |
| 1975 | 5,320 | +7.3% |
| 1974 | 4,958 | −7.1% |
| 1973 | 5,338 | −4.7% |
| 1972 | 5,603 | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 5,532 | +20% |
| 1970 | 4,626 | −18% |
| 1969 | 5,646 | +19% |
| 1968 | 4,735 | +22% |
| 1967 | 3,880 | −4.4% |
| 1966 | 4,060 | −2.5% |
| 1965 | 4,166 | +32% |
| 1964 | 3,149 | +19% |
| 1963 | 2,642 | +62% |
| 1962 | 1,626 | −43% |
| 1961 | 2,846 | — |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 3 t USD 3,000
- Exporter rank
- 97 of 105
- Imports
- 682 t USD 1.1 m
- Importer rank
- 57 of 148
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of cotton lint in Kenya?
Kenya produced 1,296 t in 2023, 0.01% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Kenya rank in the world for production of cotton lint?
Kenya ranked 62nd of 84 countries in 2023. The largest producer was China with 22.7% of the world total.
How has the production of cotton lint in Kenya changed?
It fell by 69% between 2013 and 2023, compared with +0.2% for the world. The record was 12,582 t in 1980.
Does Kenya export or import cotton lint, ginned?
In 2024 Kenya reported exports of 3 t (USD 3,000) and imports of 682 t (USD 1.1 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.