Shea nuts production by country
World production of shea nuts reached 830,410 t in 2024, up 48% over ten years. The largest producers were Nigeria (43.2%), Mali (23.8%), Burkina Faso (12.7%), together 80% of the world total. It was harvested from 681,914 ha, an average yield of 1.2 t/ha.
- World production, 2024
- 830,410 t
- 10-year change
- +48%
- Producing countries
- 7
- World average yield
- 1.22 t/ha
World production, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Map of shea nuts production, 2024
Share of the world total. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
Producers ranked, 2024
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share | 10-year change | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria I | 358,609 | 43.2% | −0.4% | 0.9 |
| 2 | Mali | 197,967 | 23.8% | +304% | 2.5 |
| 3 | Burkina Faso I | 105,853 | 12.7% | +112% | 1.3 |
| 4 | Benin I | 86,292 | 10.4% | +254% | 1.6 |
| 5 | Ghana I | 34,928 | 4.21% | +1.8% | 1.1 |
| 6 | Côte d'Ivoire I | 33,066 | 3.98% | +3.7% | 1.4 |
| 7 | Togo E | 13,695 | 1.65% | +9.5% | 4.4 |
E = estimated by FAO, I = imputed by FAO, X = from an external organisation; other figures are official.
How concentrated is production?
The largest producer, Nigeria, accounts for 43.2% of the world total in 2024; the five largest for 94.4%.
| Year | Top 5 share | Top 10 share | Countries with data |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 96.8% | 100.0% | 7 |
| 2005 | 97.0% | 100.0% | 7 |
| 2010 | 96.1% | 100.0% | 7 |
| 2015 | 91.8% | 100.0% | 7 |
| 2020 | 94.3% | 100.0% | 7 |
| 2024 | 94.4% | 100.0% | 7 |
By continent, 2024
| Continent | Production | Share of world | Share in 2014 | 10-year change | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 830,410 t | 100.0% | 100.0% | +48% | 7 |
Sums of country figures; the world total also includes countries without a continent assignment, so shares may not add up to 100%.
Fastest growing and declining producers, 2014–2024
Countries with at least 0.5% of world production in 2024, change over ten years.
Growing
| Mali | 197,967 t | +304% |
| Benin | 86,292 t | +254% |
| Burkina Faso | 105,853 t | +112% |
| Togo | 13,695 t | +9.5% |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 33,066 t | +3.7% |
Declining
| Nigeria | 358,609 t | −0.4% |
Area harvested and yields
The world average yield was 1.22 t/ha in 2024.
- Production, 2014–2024
- +48%
- Harvested area
- +30%
- Average yield
- +14%
- World area, 2024
- 681,914 ha
Most of the increase came from a larger harvested area rather than higher yields.
World area harvested, 1961–2024 (hectares)
Highest yields
| Country | Yield, t/ha | vs world |
|---|---|---|
| Togo | 4.4 | +258% |
| Mali | 2.5 | +106% |
| Benin | 1.6 | +32% |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 1.4 | +14% |
| Burkina Faso | 1.3 | +2.8% |
Lowest yields
| Country | Yield, t/ha | vs world |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 0.9 | −27% |
| Ghana | 1.1 | −13% |
| Burkina Faso | 1.3 | +2.8% |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 1.4 | +14% |
| Benin | 1.6 | +32% |
Among countries with at least 0.5% of world production. Yield = production ÷ harvested area; it depends on climate, varieties, irrigation and how the crop is counted, so it is not a measure of efficiency alone.
Long-term trend, 1961–2024
- Average growth per year, 1961–2024
- +2.6%
- Average growth per year, last 10 years
- +4.0%
- Record year
- 2019 888,670 t
- Largest yearly fall
- 1986 −25%
| Decade | Average per year | vs previous decade |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s (1961–1969) | 208,002 t | — |
| 1970s | 277,685 t | +34% |
| 1980s | 399,243 t | +44% |
| 1990s | 661,518 t | +66% |
| 2000s | 699,786 t | +5.8% |
| 2010s | 662,155 t | −5.4% |
| 2020s (2020–2024) | 845,774 t | +28% |
Production per person, 2024
World production of shea nuts was 0.10 kg per person in 2024. The highest figures, among countries with at least 1 million inhabitants:
| # | Country | kg per person | Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mali | 8.09 | 197,967 t |
| 2 | Benin | 5.97 | 86,292 t |
| 3 | Burkina Faso | 4.50 | 105,853 t |
| 4 | Togo | 1.63 | 13,695 t |
| 5 | Nigeria | 1.54 | 358,609 t |
| 6 | Côte d'Ivoire | 1.04 | 33,066 t |
| 7 | Ghana | 1.01 | 34,928 t |
Production divided by population (FAOSTAT population estimates, 2024). Production per person is not consumption: countries export, import and use crops for feed, processing and industry.
International trade, 2024
Trade item: Karite nuts (sheanuts). Other forms of this product (for example frozen, boneless, shelled, dried or processed) are separate FAO trade items that are not included here, so these figures cover only part of its trade.
- World exports
- 231,756 t
- Export value
- USD 112 m
- Average export price
- 0.48 USD/kg
Benin was the largest exporter with 60.1% of the quantity reported by exporting countries; Ghana was the largest importer with 77.6%. World exports grew 5,607% over ten years.
World exports, 2000–2024 (tonnes)
Largest exporters
FAOSTAT detailed trade data (Crops and livestock products trade, release of 23 July 2026): quantities in tonnes and values in current US dollars as reported by countries; exports include re-exports. Shares are of the total reported by all exporting or importing countries. World exports and imports do not match because of timing, valuation (exports FOB, imports CIF) and gaps in reporting. Processed products such as juices, dried or canned goods are separate items.
Questions and answers
Which country produces the most shea nuts?
Nigeria was the largest producer in 2024 with 358,609 t, 43.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
What is the world production of shea nuts?
World production was 830,410 t in 2024, +48% compared with 2014.
Which countries produce the most shea nuts?
In 2024: Nigeria (358,609 t, 43.2%), Mali (197,967 t, 23.8%), Burkina Faso (105,853 t, 12.7%), Benin (86,292 t, 10.4%), Ghana (34,928 t, 4.2%). Together they account for 94.4% of the world total.
What is the average yield of shea nuts?
The world average was 1.22 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (830,410 t from 681,914 ha harvested).
Which country exports the most karite nuts (sheanuts)?
Benin exported 139,308 t in 2024, 60.1% of reported world exports, worth USD 77.0 m, according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Which country imports the most karite nuts (sheanuts)?
Ghana imported 46,507 t in 2024, 77.6% of reported world imports.
Where does this data come from?
Production and area figures are from FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (dataset Crops and livestock products, release of 23 December 2025). Shares, rankings, changes and averages are calculated by Husfarm.
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About the data
- Figures are production in tonnes as reported to or estimated by FAO for each calendar year; the latest year is 2024.
- Letters next to a country mark figures that are not official national data: E estimated by FAO, I imputed by FAO (filled in by a statistical model), X taken from an external organisation. Treat them as approximate.
- Shares are relative to the FAO world total; ten-year changes compare 2024 with 2014; yield is production divided by area harvested; average growth per year is the compound annual rate between the two years.
- Country series on Husfarm start in 2000; the world series starts in 1961.
Download CSV All countries and years: production, area harvested and FAO flag.
How to cite: FAO (2025). FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products — Shea nuts. Retrieved via Husfarm, https://husfarm.com/production/shea-nuts/. Licence CC BY 4.0.
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.