Cow peas, dry production in Nigeria
In 2024 Nigeria produced 4.3 million t of cow peas, dry, the largest total in the world (42.4% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 101%. The record was 5.1 million t in 2012. Area harvested: 5.1 million ha, yield 0.8 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 4.3 million t
- World rank
- 1 of 41
- 10-year change
- +101%
- Record
- 5.1 million t
- 2012
Cow peas, dry in Nigeria, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Nigeria compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 42.4%
- 35.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.8
- world 0.6 (+30%)
- kg per person
- 18.4
- world 1.24
- 10-year change
- +101%
- world +70%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 4,287,631 | 42.4% |
| 2 | Niger | 2,767,637 | 27.4% |
| 3 | Burkina Faso | 736,408 | 7.3% |
Map of world production of cow peas, dry
Share of the world total; Nigeria is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,287,631 | +0.0% | 5,142,986 | 0.83 |
| 2023 | 4,285,753 | +1.7% | 5,006,871 | 0.86 |
| 2022 | 4,213,094 | −0.0% | 4,922,010 | 0.86 |
| 2021 | 4,213,100 | +1.9% | 5,041,990 | 0.84 |
| 2020 | 4,132,850 | +1.7% | 4,973,530 | 0.83 |
| 2019 | 4,064,710 | +1.4% | 4,931,320 | 0.82 |
| 2018 | 4,007,830 | +3.4% | 4,909,060 | 0.82 |
| 2017 | 3,874,740 | +3.3% | 5,008,440 | 0.77 |
| 2016 | 3,750,470 | +63% | 4,814,540 | 0.78 |
| 2015 | 2,306,200 | +7.9% | 3,635,700 | 0.63 |
| 2014 | 2,137,900 | −54% | 3,701,500 | 0.58 |
| 2013 | 4,630,540 | −10% | 3,593,300 | 1.29 |
| 2012 | 5,146,000 | +213% | 3,481,000 | 1.48 |
| 2011 | 1,643,851 | −51% | 3,021,175 | 0.54 |
| 2010 | 3,368,250 | +42% | 2,859,760 | 1.18 |
| 2009 | 2,371,640 | −19% | 2,320,590 | 1.02 |
| 2008 | 2,916,000 | −2.8% | 4,289,000 | 0.68 |
| 2007 | 3,000,000 | −1.3% | 4,491,000 | 0.67 |
| 2006 | 3,040,000 | +8.0% | 4,406,000 | 0.69 |
| 2005 | 2,815,000 | +7.0% | 4,140,000 | 0.68 |
| 2004 | 2,631,000 | +7.0% | 3,986,000 | 0.66 |
| 2003 | 2,459,000 | +6.4% | 3,726,000 | 0.66 |
| 2002 | 2,311,000 | +6.4% | 3,668,000 | 0.63 |
| 2001 | 2,172,000 | +1.0% | 3,620,000 | 0.60 |
| 2000 | 2,150,000 | +2.0% | 3,583,000 | 0.60 |
| 1999 | 2,108,000 | +2.6% | 3,513,000 | 0.60 |
| 1998 | 2,055,000 | +7.6% | 5,025,000 | 0.41 |
| 1997 | 1,909,000 | +3.4% | 4,009,000 | 0.48 |
| 1996 | 1,847,000 | +5.5% | 4,001,000 | 0.46 |
| 1995 | 1,751,000 | +13% | 3,585,000 | 0.49 |
| 1994 | 1,545,000 | −2.0% | 3,029,000 | 0.51 |
| 1993 | 1,576,000 | +12% | 3,090,000 | 0.51 |
| 1992 | 1,411,000 | +4.2% | 2,767,000 | 0.51 |
| 1991 | 1,354,000 | +0.1% | 1,885,740 | 0.72 |
| 1990 | 1,352,000 | +9.7% | 1,805,000 | 0.75 |
| 1989 | 1,232,000 | +39% | 1,643,000 | 0.75 |
| 1988 | 887,000 | +29% | 1,542,000 | 0.58 |
| 1987 | 688,000 | +7.2% | 1,496,000 | 0.46 |
| 1986 | 642,000 | +5.1% | 1,405,000 | 0.46 |
| 1985 | 611,000 | +28% | 1,405,000 | 0.43 |
| 1984 | 477,000 | −18% | 1,106,000 | 0.43 |
| 1983 | 583,000 | −5.4% | 1,183,000 | 0.49 |
| 1982 | 616,000 | +10% | 1,520,000 | 0.41 |
| 1981 | 560,000 | +9.8% | 1,173,000 | 0.48 |
| 1980 | 510,000 | −18% | 1,463,000 | 0.35 |
| 1979 | 624,000 | +25% | 1,406,000 | 0.44 |
| 1978 | 498,000 | +22% | 1,406,000 | 0.35 |
| 1977 | 408,000 | −44% | 1,552,000 | 0.26 |
| 1976 | 727,000 | −15% | 2,721,000 | 0.27 |
| 1975 | 858,000 | −22% | 3,033,000 | 0.28 |
| 1974 | 1,097,000 | +107% | 2,937,000 | 0.37 |
| 1973 | 530,000 | +30% | 3,256,000 | 0.16 |
| 1972 | 408,000 | −49% | 2,464,000 | 0.17 |
| 1971 | 801,000 | −9.4% | 3,790,000 | 0.21 |
| 1970 | 884,000 | −5.0% | 3,820,000 | 0.23 |
| 1969 | 931,000 | +44% | 4,049,000 | 0.23 |
| 1968 | 648,000 | +18% | 3,364,000 | 0.19 |
| 1967 | 550,000 | −5.2% | 3,935,000 | 0.14 |
| 1966 | 580,000 | −10% | 3,043,000 | 0.19 |
| 1965 | 646,000 | +4.9% | 2,743,000 | 0.24 |
| 1964 | 616,000 | +0.8% | 2,531,000 | 0.24 |
| 1963 | 611,000 | +20% | 2,638,000 | 0.23 |
| 1962 | 508,000 | +18% | 1,473,000 | 0.34 |
| 1961 | 431,000 | — | 1,216,000 | 0.35 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 766 t USD 574,000
- Exporter rank
- 15 of 56
- Imports
- 291 t USD 71,000
- Importer rank
- 38 of 101
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 cow peas, dry in Nigeria?
Nigeria produced 4.3 million t in 2024, 42.4% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Nigeria rank in the world for production of cow peas, dry?
Nigeria was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of Niger.
How has the production of cow peas, dry in Nigeria changed?
It rose by 101% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +70% for the world. The record was 5.1 million t in 2012.
What is the yield of cow peas, dry in Nigeria?
0.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (4.3 million t from 5.1 million ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Nigeria export or import cow peas, dry?
In 2024 Nigeria reported exports of 766 t (USD 574,000) and imports of 291 t (USD 71,000), 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; the 2024 figure for Nigeria is imputed by FAO. 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.