Maize production in Malawi
In 2024 Malawi produced 3.0 million t of maize, the 37th largest in the world (0.25% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 25%. The record was 4.6 million t in 2021. Area harvested: 1.5 million ha, yield 2.0 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is from an external organisation.
- Production, 2024
- 3.0 million t
- World rank
- 37 of 162
- 10-year change
- −25%
- Record
- 4.6 million t
- 2021
Maize in Malawi, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Malawi compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.25%
- 0.38% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.0
- world 5.8 (−66%)
- kg per person
- 139
- world 149
- 10-year change
- −25%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Angola | 3,352,459 | 0.28% |
| 36 | Nepal | 3,193,869 | 0.26% |
| 37 | Malawi | 3,000,000 | 0.25% |
| 38 | Venezuela | 2,832,022 | 0.23% |
| 39 | DR Congo | 2,387,753 | 0.20% |
Map of world production of maize
Share of the world total; Malawi is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,000,000 | −15% | 1,500,000 | 2.00 |
| 2023 | 3,509,837 | −5.6% | 1,790,000 | 1.96 |
| 2022 | 3,716,479 | −19% | 1,814,931 | 2.05 |
| 2021 | 4,581,000 | +24% | 1,859,995 | 2.46 |
| 2020 | 3,691,866 | +8.8% | 1,761,836 | 2.10 |
| 2019 | 3,391,924 | +26% | 1,732,516 | 1.96 |
| 2018 | 2,697,959 | −22% | 1,685,347 | 1.60 |
| 2017 | 3,464,139 | +46% | 1,725,367 | 2.01 |
| 2016 | 2,369,493 | −15% | 1,674,076 | 1.42 |
| 2015 | 2,776,277 | −30% | 1,676,213 | 1.66 |
| 2014 | 3,978,123 | +9.3% | 1,704,528 | 2.33 |
| 2013 | 3,639,866 | +0.6% | 1,676,758 | 2.17 |
| 2012 | 3,618,699 | −2.2% | 1,650,000 | 2.19 |
| 2011 | 3,699,147 | +8.2% | 1,675,377 | 2.21 |
| 2010 | 3,419,409 | −4.6% | 1,696,270 | 2.02 |
| 2009 | 3,582,502 | +36% | 1,608,996 | 2.23 |
| 2008 | 2,634,701 | −18% | 1,596,955 | 1.65 |
| 2007 | 3,226,418 | +24% | 1,215,356 | 2.65 |
| 2006 | 2,611,486 | +113% | 1,762,839 | 1.48 |
| 2005 | 1,225,234 | −24% | 1,513,929 | 0.81 |
| 2004 | 1,608,349 | −19% | 1,537,650 | 1.05 |
| 2003 | 1,983,440 | +27% | 1,617,917 | 1.23 |
| 2002 | 1,556,975 | −9.1% | 1,488,449 | 1.05 |
| 2001 | 1,713,064 | −32% | 1,446,260 | 1.18 |
| 2000 | 2,501,311 | +0.9% | 1,435,220 | 1.74 |
| 1999 | 2,479,406 | +40% | 1,369,150 | 1.81 |
| 1998 | 1,772,392 | +31% | 1,292,670 | 1.37 |
| 1997 | 1,351,842 | −25% | 1,233,538 | 1.10 |
| 1996 | 1,793,461 | +7.9% | 1,242,588 | 1.44 |
| 1995 | 1,661,457 | +60% | 1,229,187 | 1.35 |
| 1994 | 1,040,000 | −49% | 1,129,316 | 0.92 |
| 1993 | 2,033,957 | +210% | 1,327,040 | 1.53 |
| 1992 | 657,000 | −59% | 1,368,093 | 0.48 |
| 1991 | 1,589,377 | +18% | 1,391,878 | 1.14 |
| 1990 | 1,342,809 | −11% | 1,343,784 | 1.00 |
| 1989 | 1,509,513 | +6.0% | 1,270,822 | 1.19 |
| 1988 | 1,423,848 | +18% | 1,215,087 | 1.17 |
| 1987 | 1,201,757 | −7.2% | 1,182,415 | 1.02 |
| 1986 | 1,294,564 | −4.5% | 1,193,275 | 1.08 |
| 1985 | 1,355,202 | −3.1% | 1,145,102 | 1.18 |
| 1984 | 1,397,948 | +2.1% | 1,173,634 | 1.19 |
| 1983 | 1,369,403 | −3.2% | 1,169,402 | 1.17 |
| 1982 | 1,415,000 | +14% | 1,200,000 | 1.18 |
| 1981 | 1,245,000 | +5.0% | 1,100,000 | 1.13 |
| 1980 | 1,186,000 | −15% | 969,600 | 1.22 |
| 1979 | 1,393,000 | −2.1% | 1,161,000 | 1.20 |
| 1978 | 1,423,000 | +7.7% | 1,150,000 | 1.24 |
| 1977 | 1,321,000 | +20% | 1,000,000 | 1.32 |
| 1976 | 1,098,000 | +9.8% | 1,000,000 | 1.10 |
| 1975 | 1,000,000 | −22% | 1,000,000 | 1.00 |
| 1974 | 1,280,000 | −0.1% | 1,110,000 | 1.15 |
| 1973 | 1,281,845 | −2.1% | 1,150,000 | 1.11 |
| 1972 | 1,310,000 | +5.7% | 1,100,000 | 1.19 |
| 1971 | 1,239,200 | +38% | 1,050,000 | 1.18 |
| 1970 | 900,000 | −15% | 1,000,000 | 0.90 |
| 1969 | 1,057,700 | −2.9% | 1,068,000 | 0.99 |
| 1968 | 1,089,000 | −14% | 1,068,000 | 1.02 |
| 1967 | 1,270,000 | +34% | 864,000 | 1.47 |
| 1966 | 950,000 | +6.7% | 1,020,000 | 0.93 |
| 1965 | 890,000 | −1.9% | 1,020,000 | 0.87 |
| 1964 | 907,000 | +25% | 809,000 | 1.12 |
| 1963 | 726,000 | −15% | 809,000 | 0.90 |
| 1962 | 850,000 | +4.3% | 800,000 | 1.06 |
| 1961 | 815,000 | — | 800,000 | 1.02 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 357 t USD 398,000
- Exporter rank
- 88 of 137
- Imports
- 61,034 t USD 34.4 m
- Importer rank
- 97 of 190
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 maize in Malawi?
Malawi produced 3.0 million t in 2024, 0.25% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Malawi rank in the world for production of maize?
Malawi ranked 37th of 162 countries in 2024. The largest producer was United States with 31.0% of the world total.
How has the production of maize in Malawi changed?
It fell by 25% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 4.6 million t in 2021.
What is the yield of maize in Malawi?
2.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (3.0 million t from 1.5 million ha), against a world average of 5.8 t/ha.
Does Malawi export or import maize (corn)?
In 2024 Malawi reported exports of 357 t (USD 398,000) and imports of 61,034 t (USD 34.4 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; the 2024 figure for Malawi is from an external organisation. 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.