Fonio production in Nigeria
In 2024 Nigeria produced 85,252 t of fonio, the 2nd largest in the world (12.4% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 3.6%. The record was 95,000 t in 2005. Area harvested: 175,029 ha, yield 0.5 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 85,252 t
- World rank
- 2 of 11
- 10-year change
- +3.6%
- Record
- 95,000 t
- 2005
Fonio in Nigeria, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Nigeria compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 12.4%
- 13.1% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.5
- world 0.7 (−31%)
- kg per person
- 0.37
- world 0.08
- 10-year change
- +3.6%
- world +9.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guinea | 483,006 | 70.2% |
| 2 | Nigeria | 85,252 | 12.4% |
| 3 | Mali | 64,412 | 9.4% |
| 4 | Côte d'Ivoire | 19,543 | 2.8% |
Map of world production of fonio
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 | 85,252 | +1.6% | 175,029 | 0.49 |
| 2023 | 83,929 | −0.3% | 172,102 | 0.49 |
| 2022 | 84,170 | −0.8% | 172,388 | 0.49 |
| 2021 | 84,875 | −0.5% | 174,936 | 0.49 |
| 2020 | 85,322 | −0.5% | 176,907 | 0.48 |
| 2019 | 85,759 | +0.4% | 176,423 | 0.49 |
| 2018 | 85,454 | +0.8% | 174,203 | 0.49 |
| 2017 | 84,758 | +1.2% | 170,905 | 0.50 |
| 2016 | 83,747 | +0.8% | 167,457 | 0.50 |
| 2015 | 83,071 | +1.0% | 167,216 | 0.50 |
| 2014 | 82,270 | +0.5% | 173,874 | 0.47 |
| 2013 | 81,863 | +0.5% | 180,265 | 0.45 |
| 2012 | 81,486 | −0.6% | 174,752 | 0.47 |
| 2011 | 81,941 | +3.6% | 168,539 | 0.49 |
| 2010 | 79,087 | +6.9% | 151,766 | 0.52 |
| 2009 | 74,000 | +5.7% | 130,000 | 0.57 |
| 2008 | 70,000 | +1.4% | 119,000 | 0.59 |
| 2007 | 69,000 | −14% | 121,000 | 0.57 |
| 2006 | 80,000 | −16% | 175,000 | 0.46 |
| 2005 | 95,000 | +17% | 198,000 | 0.48 |
| 2004 | 81,000 | −2.4% | 180,000 | 0.45 |
| 2003 | 83,000 | 0.0% | 165,000 | 0.50 |
| 2002 | 83,000 | +3.8% | 166,000 | 0.50 |
| 2001 | 80,000 | +5.3% | 143,000 | 0.56 |
| 2000 | 76,000 | +7.0% | 133,000 | 0.57 |
| 1999 | 71,000 | +4.4% | 134,000 | 0.53 |
| 1998 | 68,000 | +3.0% | 131,000 | 0.52 |
| 1997 | 66,000 | +3.1% | 127,000 | 0.52 |
| 1996 | 64,000 | +10% | 125,000 | 0.51 |
| 1995 | 58,000 | +5.5% | 108,000 | 0.54 |
| 1994 | 55,000 | +10% | 93,000 | 0.59 |
| 1993 | 50,000 | +6.4% | 81,700 | 0.61 |
| 1992 | 47,000 | +9.3% | 78,000 | 0.60 |
| 1991 | 43,000 | +10% | 72,000 | 0.60 |
| 1990 | 39,000 | +11% | 65,000 | 0.60 |
| 1989 | 35,000 | +17% | 60,000 | 0.58 |
| 1988 | 30,000 | +15% | 53,000 | 0.57 |
| 1987 | 26,000 | −3.7% | 46,000 | 0.57 |
| 1986 | 27,000 | +8.0% | 44,000 | 0.61 |
| 1985 | 25,000 | +8.7% | 38,000 | 0.66 |
| 1984 | 23,000 | +28% | 35,000 | 0.66 |
| 1983 | 18,000 | −10.0% | 30,000 | 0.60 |
| 1982 | 20,000 | 0.0% | 32,000 | 0.63 |
| 1981 | 20,000 | +11% | 32,000 | 0.63 |
| 1980 | 18,000 | +13% | 30,000 | 0.60 |
| 1979 | 16,000 | 0.0% | 27,000 | 0.59 |
| 1978 | 16,000 | +14% | 27,000 | 0.59 |
| 1977 | 14,000 | 0.0% | 25,000 | 0.56 |
| 1976 | 14,000 | −13% | 25,000 | 0.56 |
| 1975 | 16,000 | −5.9% | 26,000 | 0.62 |
| 1974 | 17,000 | +21% | 27,000 | 0.63 |
| 1973 | 14,000 | 0.0% | 26,000 | 0.54 |
| 1972 | 14,000 | −22% | 25,000 | 0.56 |
| 1971 | 18,000 | 0.0% | 27,000 | 0.67 |
| 1970 | 18,000 | −28% | 28,000 | 0.64 |
| 1969 | 25,000 | −39% | 45,000 | 0.56 |
| 1968 | 41,000 | +2.5% | 81,000 | 0.51 |
| 1967 | 40,000 | +2.6% | 80,000 | 0.50 |
| 1966 | 39,000 | +2.6% | 79,000 | 0.49 |
| 1965 | 38,000 | 0.0% | 77,000 | 0.49 |
| 1964 | 38,000 | +2.7% | 76,000 | 0.50 |
| 1963 | 37,000 | +2.8% | 74,000 | 0.50 |
| 1962 | 36,000 | +9.1% | 72,000 | 0.50 |
| 1961 | 33,000 | — | 70,000 | 0.47 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 7 t USD 2,000
- Exporter rank
- 9 of 13
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 fonio in Nigeria?
Nigeria produced 85,252 t in 2024, 12.4% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Nigeria rank in the world for production of fonio?
Nigeria ranked 2nd of 11 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Guinea with 70.2% of the world total.
How has the production of fonio in Nigeria changed?
It rose by 3.6% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.4% for the world. The record was 95,000 t in 2005.
What is the yield of fonio in Nigeria?
0.5 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (85,252 t from 175,029 ha), against a world average of 0.7 t/ha.
Does Nigeria export or import fonio?
In 2024 Nigeria reported exports of 7 t (USD 2,000) and no imports, 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.