Seed cotton production in Zambia
In 2024 Zambia produced 9,072 t of seed cotton, the 50th largest in the world (0.01% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 92%. The record was 269,501 t in 2012. Area harvested: 10,367 ha, yield 0.9 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 9,072 t
- World rank
- 50 of 83
- 10-year change
- −92%
- Record
- 269,501 t
- 2012
Seed cotton in Zambia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Zambia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.01%
- 0.16% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.9
- world 2.4 (−63%)
- kg per person
- 0.43
- world 8.92
- 10-year change
- −92%
- world −4.3%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Senegal | 14,330 | 0.02% |
| 49 | Madagascar | 13,851 | 0.02% |
| 50 | Zambia | 9,072 | 0.01% |
| 51 | Somalia | 7,418 | 0.01% |
| 52 | Tunisia | 6,796 | 0.01% |
Map of world production of seed cotton
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 | 9,072 | −84% | 10,367 | 0.88 |
| 2023 | 55,971 | +146% | 67,607 | 0.83 |
| 2022 | 22,752 | −29% | 25,005 | 0.91 |
| 2021 | 31,859 | −23% | 40,298 | 0.79 |
| 2020 | 41,441 | −43% | 68,183 | 0.61 |
| 2019 | 72,508 | −18% | 88,748 | 0.82 |
| 2018 | 88,219 | −1.2% | 106,881 | 0.83 |
| 2017 | 89,293 | −20% | 105,352 | 0.85 |
| 2016 | 111,902 | +7.7% | 129,599 | 0.86 |
| 2015 | 103,889 | −14% | 126,803 | 0.82 |
| 2014 | 120,314 | −14% | 124,888 | 0.96 |
| 2013 | 139,583 | −48% | 172,160 | 0.81 |
| 2012 | 269,501 | +105% | 314,490 | 0.86 |
| 2011 | 131,298 | +23% | 121,857 | 1.08 |
| 2010 | 107,000 | −21% | 85,073 | 1.26 |
| 2009 | 136,000 | +7.9% | 97,144 | 1.40 |
| 2008 | 126,000 | −10.0% | 83,658 | 1.51 |
| 2007 | 140,000 | +18% | 74,347 | 1.88 |
| 2006 | 118,426 | −17% | 100,000 | 1.18 |
| 2005 | 142,160 | +24% | 129,667 | 1.10 |
| 2004 | 115,000 | +17% | 100,000 | 1.15 |
| 2003 | 98,000 | +24% | 81,000 | 1.21 |
| 2002 | 79,200 | +15% | 66,000 | 1.20 |
| 2001 | 69,000 | +11% | 60,000 | 1.15 |
| 2000 | 62,000 | −56% | 54,937 | 1.13 |
| 1999 | 140,072 | +137% | 105,623 | 1.33 |
| 1998 | 59,000 | −7.8% | 44,560 | 1.32 |
| 1997 | 64,000 | +73% | 44,741 | 1.43 |
| 1996 | 37,074 | +124% | 66,217 | 0.56 |
| 1995 | 16,578 | −50% | 35,200 | 0.47 |
| 1994 | 33,093 | −31% | 50,661 | 0.65 |
| 1993 | 47,851 | +85% | 76,492 | 0.63 |
| 1992 | 25,899 | −47% | 59,614 | 0.43 |
| 1991 | 48,721 | +59% | 74,020 | 0.66 |
| 1990 | 30,666 | −42% | 64,036 | 0.48 |
| 1989 | 52,688 | −10.0% | 89,251 | 0.59 |
| 1988 | 58,530 | +190% | 77,935 | 0.75 |
| 1987 | 20,156 | −40% | 38,157 | 0.53 |
| 1986 | 33,357 | +10% | 52,000 | 0.64 |
| 1985 | 30,254 | −30% | 45,839 | 0.66 |
| 1984 | 43,467 | +112% | 51,990 | 0.84 |
| 1983 | 20,510 | +60% | 33,140 | 0.62 |
| 1982 | 12,786 | −25% | 23,870 | 0.54 |
| 1981 | 17,005 | +13% | 36,460 | 0.47 |
| 1980 | 15,000 | +0.6% | 30,300 | 0.50 |
| 1979 | 14,916 | +46% | 24,146 | 0.62 |
| 1978 | 10,200 | +14% | 21,440 | 0.48 |
| 1977 | 8,929 | +130% | 10,509 | 0.85 |
| 1976 | 3,885 | +49% | 6,012 | 0.65 |
| 1975 | 2,602 | +20% | 4,100 | 0.63 |
| 1974 | 2,173 | −58% | 3,961 | 0.55 |
| 1973 | 5,225 | −37% | 8,000 | 0.65 |
| 1972 | 8,349 | −34% | 12,000 | 0.70 |
| 1971 | 12,675 | +133% | 13,000 | 0.98 |
| 1970 | 5,446 | −21% | 7,000 | 0.78 |
| 1969 | 6,901 | +71% | 8,500 | 0.81 |
| 1968 | 4,032 | +127% | 5,746 | 0.70 |
| 1967 | 1,778 | −66% | 2,388 | 0.74 |
| 1966 | 5,299 | +153% | 2,711 | 1.95 |
| 1965 | 2,098 | +27% | 2,469 | 0.85 |
| 1964 | 1,647 | +168% | 1,295 | 1.27 |
| 1963 | 615 | — | 546 | 1.13 |
| 1962 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — | — | — |
Questions and answers
What is the production of seed cotton in Zambia?
Zambia produced 9,072 t in 2024, 0.01% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Zambia rank in the world for production of seed cotton?
Zambia ranked 50th of 83 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 25.7% of the world total.
How has the production of seed cotton in Zambia changed?
It fell by 92% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.3% for the world. The record was 269,501 t in 2012.
What is the yield of seed cotton in Zambia?
0.9 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (9,072 t from 10,367 ha), against a world average of 2.4 t/ha.
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.