Rice (paddy) production in Zambia
In 2024 Zambia produced 24,566 t of rice (paddy), the 90th largest in the world (0.00% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 51%. The record was 65,876 t in 2021. Area harvested: 23,162 ha, yield 1.1 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 24,566 t
- World rank
- 90 of 115
- 10-year change
- −51%
- Record
- 65,876 t
- 2021
Rice (paddy) in Zambia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Zambia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.00%
- 0.01% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.1
- world 4.8 (−78%)
- kg per person
- 1.15
- world 100
- 10-year change
- −51%
- world +10%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Guatemala | 31,700 | 0.00% |
| 89 | Sudan | 27,818 | 0.00% |
| 90 | Zambia | 24,566 | 0.00% |
| 91 | Honduras | 23,433 | 0.00% |
| 92 | North Macedonia | 18,608 | 0.00% |
Map of world production of rice (paddy)
Share of the world total; Zambia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,566 | −61% | 23,162 | 1.06 |
| 2023 | 62,680 | +0.6% | 49,414 | 1.27 |
| 2022 | 62,280 | −5.5% | 39,581 | 1.57 |
| 2021 | 65,876 | +90% | 44,233 | 1.49 |
| 2020 | 34,630 | +17% | 24,756 | 1.40 |
| 2019 | 29,584 | −31% | 24,576 | 1.20 |
| 2018 | 43,063 | +12% | 30,297 | 1.42 |
| 2017 | 38,423 | +44% | 29,575 | 1.30 |
| 2016 | 26,675 | +4.6% | 22,087 | 1.21 |
| 2015 | 25,514 | −49% | 17,907 | 1.42 |
| 2014 | 49,640 | +11% | 33,207 | 1.49 |
| 2013 | 44,747 | −1.3% | 31,621 | 1.42 |
| 2012 | 45,321 | −8.3% | 26,265 | 1.73 |
| 2011 | 49,410 | −4.3% | 27,490 | 1.80 |
| 2010 | 51,656 | +23% | 30,788 | 1.68 |
| 2009 | 41,929 | +75% | 25,582 | 1.64 |
| 2008 | 24,023 | +31% | 17,367 | 1.38 |
| 2007 | 18,317 | +31% | 12,110 | 1.51 |
| 2006 | 13,964 | +4.7% | 14,358 | 0.97 |
| 2005 | 13,337 | −22% | 10,368 | 1.29 |
| 2004 | 17,189 | +60% | 9,684 | 1.77 |
| 2003 | 10,744 | −7.7% | 7,452 | 1.44 |
| 2002 | 11,642 | −0.0% | 9,268 | 1.26 |
| 2001 | 11,645 | −16% | 9,270 | 1.26 |
| 2000 | 13,936 | −5.2% | 12,297 | 1.13 |
| 1999 | 14,700 | +130% | 16,121 | 0.91 |
| 1998 | 6,399 | −49% | 9,065 | 0.71 |
| 1997 | 12,473 | −6.2% | 12,412 | 1.00 |
| 1996 | 13,296 | +9.8% | 9,888 | 1.34 |
| 1995 | 12,110 | +90% | 9,746 | 1.24 |
| 1994 | 6,358 | −55% | 7,177 | 0.89 |
| 1993 | 13,993 | +69% | 13,802 | 1.01 |
| 1992 | 8,283 | −43% | 14,369 | 0.58 |
| 1991 | 14,602 | +58% | 13,450 | 1.09 |
| 1990 | 9,213 | −21% | 9,533 | 0.97 |
| 1989 | 11,734 | +21% | 12,811 | 0.92 |
| 1988 | 9,701 | +18% | 10,593 | 0.92 |
| 1987 | 8,242 | −26% | 8,689 | 0.95 |
| 1986 | 11,207 | −0.2% | 10,404 | 1.08 |
| 1985 | 11,233 | +21% | 10,701 | 1.05 |
| 1984 | 9,271 | −3.7% | 8,740 | 1.06 |
| 1983 | 9,631 | +83% | 7,014 | 1.37 |
| 1982 | 5,272 | +97% | 5,920 | 0.89 |
| 1981 | 2,673 | +21% | 5,362 | 0.50 |
| 1980 | 2,213 | +19% | 5,100 | 0.43 |
| 1979 | 1,852 | −37% | 3,100 | 0.60 |
| 1978 | 2,925 | +57% | 3,800 | 0.77 |
| 1977 | 1,860 | −23% | 2,200 | 0.85 |
| 1976 | 2,413 | +39% | 2,236 | 1.08 |
| 1975 | 1,742 | +129% | 1,690 | 1.03 |
| 1974 | 761 | +50% | 1,066 | 0.71 |
| 1973 | 506 | −4.5% | 900 | 0.56 |
| 1972 | 530 | +13% | 710 | 0.75 |
| 1971 | 470 | +3.5% | 850 | 0.55 |
| 1970 | 454 | +8.9% | 1,113 | 0.41 |
| 1969 | 417 | +118% | 1,012 | 0.41 |
| 1968 | 191 | — | 486 | 0.39 |
| 1967 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1966 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — | — | — |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 4 t USD 3,000
- Exporter rank
- 76 of 86
- Imports
- 181 t USD 169,000
- Importer rank
- 72 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 Zambia?
Zambia produced 24,566 t in 2024, 0.00% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Zambia rank in the world for production of rice (paddy)?
Zambia ranked 90th 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 Zambia changed?
It fell by 51% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +10% for the world. The record was 65,876 t in 2021.
What is the yield of rice (paddy) in Zambia?
1.1 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (24,566 t from 23,162 ha), against a world average of 4.8 t/ha.
Does Zambia export or import rice?
In 2024 Zambia reported exports of 4 t (USD 3,000) and imports of 181 t (USD 169,000), 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.