Rice (paddy) production in Malawi
In 2024 Malawi produced 127,000 t of rice (paddy), the 74th largest in the world (0.02% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 3.8%. The record was 155,000 t in 2021. Area harvested: 80,100 ha, yield 1.6 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 127,000 t
- World rank
- 74 of 115
- 10-year change
- −3.8%
- Record
- 155,000 t
- 2021
Rice (paddy) in Malawi, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Malawi compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.02%
- 0.02% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.6
- world 4.8 (−67%)
- kg per person
- 5.86
- world 100
- 10-year change
- −3.8%
- world +10%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | Burundi | 136,000 | 0.02% |
| 73 | Haiti | 135,000 | 0.02% |
| 74 | Malawi | 127,000 | 0.02% |
| 75 | Chile | 118,673 | 0.01% |
| 76 | Turkmenistan | 85,536 | 0.01% |
Map of world production of rice (paddy)
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 | 127,000 | +2.2% | 80,100 | 1.59 |
| 2023 | 124,300 | −8.7% | 79,100 | 1.57 |
| 2022 | 136,083 | −12% | 75,787 | 1.80 |
| 2021 | 155,000 | +6.6% | 76,000 | 2.04 |
| 2020 | 145,446 | +9.6% | 72,763 | 2.00 |
| 2019 | 132,728 | +18% | 70,573 | 1.88 |
| 2018 | 112,313 | −7.2% | 63,971 | 1.76 |
| 2017 | 121,079 | +45% | 64,881 | 1.87 |
| 2016 | 83,757 | −25% | 53,676 | 1.56 |
| 2015 | 111,437 | −16% | 65,761 | 1.69 |
| 2014 | 132,002 | +5.5% | 67,400 | 1.96 |
| 2013 | 125,156 | +13% | 65,275 | 1.92 |
| 2012 | 110,964 | −5.7% | 60,132 | 1.85 |
| 2011 | 117,733 | +6.9% | 61,559 | 1.91 |
| 2010 | 110,106 | −19% | 59,098 | 1.86 |
| 2009 | 135,988 | +18% | 63,967 | 2.13 |
| 2008 | 114,885 | +1.5% | 63,124 | 1.82 |
| 2007 | 113,166 | +24% | 58,091 | 1.95 |
| 2006 | 91,450 | +122% | 52,031 | 1.76 |
| 2005 | 41,270 | −17% | 48,993 | 0.84 |
| 2004 | 49,722 | −44% | 42,568 | 1.17 |
| 2003 | 88,184 | −4.2% | 54,393 | 1.62 |
| 2002 | 92,027 | −1.2% | 56,029 | 1.64 |
| 2001 | 93,150 | +30% | 50,146 | 1.86 |
| 2000 | 71,601 | −23% | 43,523 | 1.65 |
| 1999 | 92,833 | +35% | 45,779 | 2.03 |
| 1998 | 68,679 | +4.6% | 41,854 | 1.64 |
| 1997 | 65,690 | −9.6% | 40,368 | 1.63 |
| 1996 | 72,629 | +39% | 41,223 | 1.76 |
| 1995 | 52,077 | +27% | 33,308 | 1.56 |
| 1994 | 41,128 | −37% | 27,067 | 1.52 |
| 1993 | 65,357 | +175% | 38,824 | 1.68 |
| 1992 | 23,798 | −62% | 18,241 | 1.30 |
| 1991 | 63,175 | +46% | 32,841 | 1.92 |
| 1990 | 43,280 | −5.3% | 29,042 | 1.49 |
| 1989 | 45,690 | +41% | 25,573 | 1.79 |
| 1988 | 32,321 | +14% | 22,658 | 1.43 |
| 1987 | 28,432 | −24% | 19,076 | 1.49 |
| 1986 | 37,407 | +9.2% | 22,874 | 1.64 |
| 1985 | 34,265 | −1.8% | 20,807 | 1.65 |
| 1984 | 34,886 | +34% | 21,917 | 1.59 |
| 1983 | 25,948 | −30% | 20,309 | 1.28 |
| 1982 | 37,000 | +2.8% | 22,500 | 1.64 |
| 1981 | 36,000 | −5.3% | 22,840 | 1.58 |
| 1980 | 38,000 | −14% | 42,000 | 0.90 |
| 1979 | 44,000 | −52% | 45,000 | 0.98 |
| 1978 | 92,000 | +8.2% | 47,000 | 1.96 |
| 1977 | 85,000 | −5.6% | 45,000 | 1.89 |
| 1976 | 90,000 | +17% | 45,000 | 2.00 |
| 1975 | 77,000 | +26% | 40,000 | 1.93 |
| 1974 | 61,000 | −10% | 42,000 | 1.45 |
| 1973 | 68,000 | +63% | 40,000 | 1.70 |
| 1972 | 41,700 | +35% | 42,000 | 0.99 |
| 1971 | 30,800 | +41% | 32,000 | 0.96 |
| 1970 | 21,772 | +27% | 19,600 | 1.11 |
| 1969 | 17,200 | +89% | 16,000 | 1.08 |
| 1968 | 9,100 | −24% | 11,000 | 0.83 |
| 1967 | 12,000 | +9.1% | 15,800 | 0.76 |
| 1966 | 11,000 | +102% | 16,300 | 0.67 |
| 1965 | 5,443 | +15% | 6,000 | 0.91 |
| 1964 | 4,717 | +2.5% | 4,856 | 0.97 |
| 1963 | 4,603 | +0.0% | 4,451 | 1.03 |
| 1962 | 4,601 | −51% | 6,000 | 0.77 |
| 1961 | 9,404 | — | 13,100 | 0.72 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 23 t USD 21,000
- Exporter rank
- 59 of 86
- Imports
- 137 t USD 45,000
- Importer rank
- 76 of 149
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 rice (paddy) in Malawi?
Malawi produced 127,000 t in 2024, 0.02% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Malawi rank in the world for production of rice (paddy)?
Malawi ranked 74th of 115 countries in 2024. The largest producer was India with 26.6% of the world total.
How has the production of rice (paddy) in Malawi changed?
It fell by 3.8% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +10% for the world. The record was 155,000 t in 2021.
What is the yield of rice (paddy) in Malawi?
1.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (127,000 t from 80,100 ha), against a world average of 4.8 t/ha.
Does Malawi export or import rice?
In 2024 Malawi reported exports of 23 t (USD 21,000) and imports of 137 t (USD 45,000), 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. 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.