Sorghum production in Malawi
In 2024 Malawi produced 102,000 t of sorghum, the 38th largest in the world (0.16% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 9.5%. The record was 141,272 t in 2020. Area harvested: 96,872 ha, yield 1.1 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is from an external organisation.
- Production, 2024
- 102,000 t
- World rank
- 38 of 107
- 10-year change
- +9.5%
- Record
- 141,272 t
- 2020
Sorghum in Malawi, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Malawi compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.16%
- 0.14% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.1
- world 1.5 (−27%)
- kg per person
- 4.71
- world 7.87
- 10-year change
- +9.5%
- world −5.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Mauritania | 114,000 | 0.18% |
| 37 | Russia | 108,433 | 0.17% |
| 38 | Malawi | 102,000 | 0.16% |
| 39 | El Salvador | 99,000 | 0.15% |
| 40 | South Africa | 98,000 | 0.15% |
Map of world production of sorghum
Share of the world total; Malawi is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 102,000 | −19% | 96,872 | 1.05 |
| 2023 | 126,333 | +8.1% | 122,463 | 1.03 |
| 2022 | 116,918 | −1.2% | 116,797 | 1.00 |
| 2021 | 118,351 | −16% | 116,983 | 1.01 |
| 2020 | 141,272 | +6.1% | 117,132 | 1.21 |
| 2019 | 133,212 | +61% | 114,130 | 1.17 |
| 2018 | 82,852 | −8.3% | 106,242 | 0.78 |
| 2017 | 90,370 | +55% | 103,921 | 0.87 |
| 2016 | 58,192 | −27% | 98,853 | 0.59 |
| 2015 | 79,327 | −15% | 93,858 | 0.85 |
| 2014 | 93,187 | +8.1% | 92,093 | 1.01 |
| 2013 | 86,242 | +30% | 89,399 | 0.96 |
| 2012 | 66,497 | −9.3% | 79,780 | 0.83 |
| 2011 | 73,330 | +36% | 89,607 | 0.82 |
| 2010 | 53,932 | −10% | 88,498 | 0.61 |
| 2009 | 60,025 | −3.2% | 75,332 | 0.80 |
| 2008 | 61,999 | −2.7% | 74,569 | 0.83 |
| 2007 | 63,698 | +17% | 74,131 | 0.86 |
| 2006 | 54,309 | +199% | 70,644 | 0.77 |
| 2005 | 18,175 | −56% | 68,419 | 0.27 |
| 2004 | 40,905 | −10.0% | 63,459 | 0.64 |
| 2003 | 45,438 | +16% | 59,627 | 0.76 |
| 2002 | 39,155 | +6.4% | 54,404 | 0.72 |
| 2001 | 36,806 | +0.0% | 54,098 | 0.68 |
| 2000 | 36,799 | −11% | 55,030 | 0.67 |
| 1999 | 41,401 | −0.2% | 59,310 | 0.70 |
| 1998 | 41,473 | +5.0% | 67,938 | 0.61 |
| 1997 | 39,514 | −28% | 83,859 | 0.47 |
| 1996 | 54,710 | +22% | 76,029 | 0.72 |
| 1995 | 44,754 | +169% | 61,633 | 0.73 |
| 1994 | 16,667 | −23% | 54,482 | 0.31 |
| 1993 | 21,591 | +446% | 43,873 | 0.49 |
| 1992 | 3,957 | −79% | 27,668 | 0.14 |
| 1991 | 18,557 | +20% | 31,035 | 0.60 |
| 1990 | 15,452 | −23% | 30,814 | 0.50 |
| 1989 | 20,050 | −7.9% | 29,828 | 0.67 |
| 1988 | 21,776 | +50% | 30,099 | 0.72 |
| 1987 | 14,542 | −30% | 30,626 | 0.47 |
| 1986 | 20,761 | −5.8% | 32,059 | 0.65 |
| 1985 | 22,041 | +54% | 32,725 | 0.67 |
| 1984 | 14,271 | +109% | 21,302 | 0.67 |
| 1983 | 6,832 | −66% | 22,649 | 0.30 |
| 1982 | 20,000 | 0.0% | 30,000 | 0.67 |
| 1981 | 20,000 | 0.0% | 30,000 | 0.67 |
| 1980 | 20,000 | 0.0% | 30,000 | 0.67 |
| 1979 | 20,000 | 0.0% | 30,000 | 0.67 |
| 1978 | 20,000 | −83% | 30,000 | 0.67 |
| 1977 | 120,000 | +14% | 130,000 | 0.92 |
| 1976 | 105,000 | +5.0% | 120,000 | 0.88 |
| 1975 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 120,000 | 0.83 |
| 1974 | 100,000 | +4.0% | 120,000 | 0.83 |
| 1973 | 96,161 | −2.9% | 120,000 | 0.80 |
| 1972 | 99,000 | +7.6% | 120,000 | 0.83 |
| 1971 | 92,000 | +28% | 120,000 | 0.77 |
| 1970 | 71,700 | +2.4% | 100,000 | 0.72 |
| 1969 | 70,000 | 0.0% | 100,000 | 0.70 |
| 1968 | 70,000 | +17% | 95,000 | 0.74 |
| 1967 | 60,000 | 0.0% | 92,000 | 0.65 |
| 1966 | 60,000 | +9.1% | 92,000 | 0.65 |
| 1965 | 55,000 | 0.0% | 84,000 | 0.65 |
| 1964 | 55,000 | +10% | 84,000 | 0.65 |
| 1963 | 50,000 | +11% | 77,000 | 0.65 |
| 1962 | 45,000 | +13% | 70,000 | 0.64 |
| 1961 | 40,000 | — | 65,000 | 0.62 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 80 t USD 48,000
- Exporter rank
- 46 of 76
- Imports
- 21 t USD 34,000
- Importer rank
- 105 of 130
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 sorghum in Malawi?
Malawi produced 102,000 t in 2024, 0.16% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Malawi rank in the world for production of sorghum?
Malawi ranked 38th of 107 countries in 2024. The largest producer was United States with 13.6% of the world total.
How has the production of sorghum in Malawi changed?
It rose by 9.5% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −5.8% for the world. The record was 141,272 t in 2020.
What is the yield of sorghum in Malawi?
1.1 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (102,000 t from 96,872 ha), against a world average of 1.5 t/ha.
Does Malawi export or import sorghum?
In 2024 Malawi reported exports of 80 t (USD 48,000) and imports of 21 t (USD 34,000), 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 Malawi is from an external organisation. 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.