Shea nuts production in Ghana
In 2024 Ghana produced 34,928 t of shea nuts, the 5th largest in the world (4.21% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 1.8%. The record was 65,000 t in 1988. Area harvested: 33,006 ha, yield 1.1 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 34,928 t
- World rank
- 5 of 7
- 10-year change
- +1.8%
- Record
- 65,000 t
- 1988
Shea nuts in Ghana, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Ghana compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 4.2%
- 6.1% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.1
- world 1.2 (−13%)
- kg per person
- 1.01
- world 0.10
- 10-year change
- +1.8%
- world +48%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 7 | Togo | 13,695 | 1.6% |
Map of world production of shea nuts
Share of the world total; Ghana is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 34,928 | +0.5% | 33,006 | 1.06 |
| 2023 | 34,764 | +0.5% | 32,735 | 1.06 |
| 2022 | 34,600 | +0.6% | 33,256 | 1.04 |
| 2021 | 34,400 | +3.0% | 33,028 | 1.04 |
| 2020 | 33,387 | +0.4% | 31,922 | 1.05 |
| 2019 | 33,238 | −0.6% | 31,572 | 1.05 |
| 2018 | 33,442 | −1.0% | 31,594 | 1.06 |
| 2017 | 33,783 | −1.5% | 31,842 | 1.06 |
| 2016 | 34,300 | 0.0% | 33,057 | 1.04 |
| 2015 | 34,300 | 0.0% | 31,470 | 1.09 |
| 2014 | 34,300 | +2.0% | 31,000 | 1.11 |
| 2013 | 33,630 | +1.0% | 30,500 | 1.10 |
| 2012 | 33,310 | +2.0% | 30,500 | 1.09 |
| 2011 | 32,655 | −11% | 30,000 | 1.09 |
| 2010 | 36,687 | −5.5% | 28,862 | 1.27 |
| 2009 | 38,823 | −5.2% | 27,814 | 1.40 |
| 2008 | 40,932 | −18% | 26,575 | 1.54 |
| 2007 | 49,708 | −6.7% | 29,318 | 1.70 |
| 2006 | 53,251 | −13% | 25,611 | 2.08 |
| 2005 | 60,935 | −2.1% | 26,952 | 2.26 |
| 2004 | 62,253 | −4.2% | 20,870 | 2.98 |
| 2003 | 65,000 | +8.3% | 22,119 | 2.94 |
| 2002 | 60,000 | −3.3% | 20,554 | 2.92 |
| 2001 | 62,024 | −4.6% | 21,691 | 2.86 |
| 2000 | 65,000 | +25% | 22,000 | 2.95 |
| 1999 | 52,000 | −1.9% | 21,000 | 2.48 |
| 1998 | 53,000 | −2.6% | 21,500 | 2.47 |
| 1997 | 54,416 | −1.1% | 21,805 | 2.50 |
| 1996 | 55,000 | +5.8% | 22,000 | 2.50 |
| 1995 | 52,000 | −5.5% | 21,000 | 2.48 |
| 1994 | 55,000 | +5.6% | 22,000 | 2.50 |
| 1993 | 52,068 | +4.1% | 20,612 | 2.53 |
| 1992 | 50,000 | −3.4% | 20,000 | 2.50 |
| 1991 | 51,753 | −0.5% | 20,487 | 2.53 |
| 1990 | 52,000 | +4.0% | 21,000 | 2.48 |
| 1989 | 50,000 | −23% | 20,000 | 2.50 |
| 1988 | 65,000 | +30% | 25,000 | 2.60 |
| 1987 | 50,000 | −21% | 20,000 | 2.50 |
| 1986 | 63,000 | +15% | 24,000 | 2.63 |
| 1985 | 55,000 | +10% | 21,000 | 2.62 |
| 1984 | 50,000 | −9.1% | 20,000 | 2.50 |
| 1983 | 55,000 | +20% | 21,000 | 2.62 |
| 1982 | 46,000 | +2.2% | 18,000 | 2.56 |
| 1981 | 45,000 | +2.3% | 18,000 | 2.50 |
| 1980 | 44,000 | 0.0% | 18,000 | 2.44 |
| 1979 | 44,000 | 0.0% | 18,000 | 2.44 |
| 1978 | 44,000 | 0.0% | 18,000 | 2.44 |
| 1977 | 44,000 | +4.8% | 18,000 | 2.44 |
| 1976 | 42,000 | −13% | 17,000 | 2.47 |
| 1975 | 48,000 | +14% | 20,000 | 2.40 |
| 1974 | 42,000 | +5.0% | 17,000 | 2.47 |
| 1973 | 40,000 | 0.0% | 17,000 | 2.35 |
| 1972 | 40,000 | −9.1% | 17,000 | 2.35 |
| 1971 | 44,000 | 0.0% | 18,000 | 2.44 |
| 1970 | 44,000 | 0.0% | 18,000 | 2.44 |
| 1969 | 44,000 | +4.8% | 18,000 | 2.44 |
| 1968 | 42,000 | 0.0% | 17,000 | 2.47 |
| 1967 | 42,000 | +17% | 17,000 | 2.47 |
| 1966 | 36,000 | 0.0% | 15,000 | 2.40 |
| 1965 | 36,000 | −7.7% | 15,000 | 2.40 |
| 1964 | 39,000 | +50% | 16,000 | 2.44 |
| 1963 | 26,000 | 0.0% | 11,000 | 2.36 |
| 1962 | 26,000 | 0.0% | 11,000 | 2.36 |
| 1961 | 26,000 | — | 11,000 | 2.36 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 20 t USD 7,000
- Exporter rank
- 6 of 7
- Imports
- 46,507 t USD 13.8 m
- Importer rank
- 1 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 Ghana?
Ghana produced 34,928 t in 2024, 4.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Ghana rank in the world for production of shea nuts?
Ghana ranked 5th 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 Ghana changed?
It rose by 1.8% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +48% for the world. The record was 65,000 t in 1988.
What is the yield of shea nuts in Ghana?
1.1 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (34,928 t from 33,006 ha), against a world average of 1.2 t/ha.
Does Ghana export or import karite nuts (sheanuts)?
In 2024 Ghana reported exports of 20 t (USD 7,000) and imports of 46,507 t (USD 13.8 m), 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 Ghana 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.