Shea nuts production in Benin
In 2024 Benin produced 86,292 t of shea nuts, the 4th largest in the world (10.4% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 254%. This is the highest figure on record. Area harvested: 53,519 ha, yield 1.6 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 86,292 t
- World rank
- 4 of 7
- 10-year change
- +254%
- Record
- 86,292 t
- 2024
Shea nuts in Benin, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Benin compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 10.4%
- 4.3% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.6
- world 1.2 (+32%)
- kg per person
- 5.97
- world 0.10
- 10-year change
- +254%
- world +48%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mali | 197,967 | 23.8% |
| 3 | Burkina Faso | 105,853 | 12.7% |
| 4 | Benin | 86,292 | 10.4% |
| 5 | Ghana | 34,928 | 4.2% |
| 6 | Côte d'Ivoire | 33,066 | 4.0% |
Map of world production of shea nuts
Share of the world total; Benin is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 86,292 | +4.6% | 53,519 | 1.61 |
| 2023 | 82,515 | +24% | 50,460 | 1.64 |
| 2022 | 66,797 | −4.6% | 40,284 | 1.66 |
| 2021 | 70,000 | 0.0% | 41,688 | 1.68 |
| 2020 | 70,000 | −18% | 41,182 | 1.70 |
| 2019 | 85,000 | +17% | 49,155 | 1.73 |
| 2018 | 72,610 | +18% | 41,372 | 1.76 |
| 2017 | 61,530 | +23% | 34,569 | 1.78 |
| 2016 | 49,993 | +51% | 27,542 | 1.82 |
| 2015 | 33,071 | +36% | 18,022 | 1.84 |
| 2014 | 24,388 | +63% | 13,164 | 1.85 |
| 2013 | 15,000 | +7.1% | 7,800 | 1.92 |
| 2012 | 14,000 | +7.7% | 7,200 | 1.94 |
| 2011 | 13,000 | −1.0% | 7,100 | 1.83 |
| 2010 | 13,131 | +1.3% | 6,770 | 1.94 |
| 2009 | 12,961 | +1.3% | 6,609 | 1.96 |
| 2008 | 12,797 | +1.2% | 6,443 | 1.99 |
| 2007 | 12,640 | +1.2% | 6,274 | 2.01 |
| 2006 | 12,491 | +1.1% | 6,108 | 2.05 |
| 2005 | 12,351 | +1.1% | 5,951 | 2.08 |
| 2004 | 12,219 | −8.4% | 5,834 | 2.09 |
| 2003 | 13,335 | +2.4% | 6,035 | 2.21 |
| 2002 | 13,018 | −8.0% | 5,800 | 2.24 |
| 2001 | 14,150 | +0.1% | 5,914 | 2.39 |
| 2000 | 14,133 | +0.0% | 5,859 | 2.41 |
| 1999 | 14,127 | −0.0% | 5,814 | 2.43 |
| 1998 | 14,130 | −0.1% | 5,778 | 2.45 |
| 1997 | 14,140 | −0.1% | 5,753 | 2.46 |
| 1996 | 14,151 | −5.7% | 5,736 | 2.47 |
| 1995 | 15,000 | −3.2% | 6,068 | 2.47 |
| 1994 | 15,500 | +41% | 6,000 | 2.58 |
| 1993 | 11,000 | +38% | 4,500 | 2.44 |
| 1992 | 8,000 | −20% | 3,500 | 2.29 |
| 1991 | 10,000 | +43% | 4,000 | 2.50 |
| 1990 | 7,000 | 0.0% | 3,533 | 1.98 |
| 1989 | 7,000 | −65% | 3,000 | 2.33 |
| 1988 | 20,000 | 0.0% | 8,000 | 2.50 |
| 1987 | 20,000 | −20% | 8,000 | 2.50 |
| 1986 | 25,000 | −3.8% | 10,000 | 2.50 |
| 1985 | 26,000 | +2.0% | 10,000 | 2.60 |
| 1984 | 25,500 | +264% | 10,000 | 2.55 |
| 1983 | 7,000 | +17% | 3,000 | 2.33 |
| 1982 | 6,000 | −36% | 2,500 | 2.40 |
| 1981 | 9,368 | +2.4% | 3,500 | 2.68 |
| 1980 | 9,148 | +2.5% | 3,500 | 2.61 |
| 1979 | 8,928 | −0.8% | 3,500 | 2.55 |
| 1978 | 9,000 | +1.5% | 3,500 | 2.57 |
| 1977 | 8,870 | +11% | 3,500 | 2.53 |
| 1976 | 8,000 | +7.0% | 3,000 | 2.67 |
| 1975 | 7,475 | −22% | 3,000 | 2.49 |
| 1974 | 9,600 | +85% | 3,500 | 2.74 |
| 1973 | 5,200 | −13% | 2,500 | 2.08 |
| 1972 | 6,000 | +3.4% | 2,500 | 2.40 |
| 1971 | 5,800 | −35% | 2,500 | 2.32 |
| 1970 | 8,900 | +37% | 3,500 | 2.54 |
| 1969 | 6,500 | +12% | 2,500 | 2.60 |
| 1968 | 5,800 | −33% | 2,500 | 2.32 |
| 1967 | 8,700 | +12% | 3,500 | 2.49 |
| 1966 | 7,735 | +3.1% | 3,000 | 2.58 |
| 1965 | 7,500 | +146% | 3,000 | 2.50 |
| 1964 | 3,050 | −66% | 1,500 | 2.03 |
| 1963 | 9,000 | +39% | 3,500 | 2.57 |
| 1962 | 6,480 | +23% | 3,000 | 2.16 |
| 1961 | 5,250 | — | 2,500 | 2.10 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 139,308 t USD 77.0 m
- Exporter rank
- 1 of 7
- Imports
- 17 t USD 3,000
- Importer rank
- 6 of 6
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 shea nuts in Benin?
Benin produced 86,292 t in 2024, 10.4% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Benin rank in the world for production of shea nuts?
Benin ranked 4th of 7 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Nigeria with 43.2% of the world total.
How has the production of shea nuts in Benin changed?
It rose by 254% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +48% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
What is the yield of shea nuts in Benin?
1.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (86,292 t from 53,519 ha), against a world average of 1.2 t/ha.
Does Benin export or import karite nuts (sheanuts)?
In 2024 Benin reported exports of 139,308 t (USD 77.0 m) and imports of 17 t (USD 3,000), 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; the 2024 figure for Benin is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
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.