Sugar cane production in Costa Rica
In 2024 Costa Rica produced 4.1 million t of sugar cane, the 33rd largest in the world (0.21% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 7.9%. The record was 4.6 million t in 2006. Area harvested: 58,301 ha, yield 71.0 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 4.1 million t
- World rank
- 33 of 94
- 10-year change
- −7.9%
- Record
- 4.6 million t
- 2006
Sugar cane in Costa Rica, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Costa Rica compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.21%
- 0.24% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 71.0
- world 72.5 (−2.1%)
- kg per person
- 807
- world 238
- 10-year change
- −7.9%
- world +2.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Zambia | 4,893,717 | 0.25% |
| 32 | Sudan | 4,220,463 | 0.22% |
| 33 | Costa Rica | 4,139,275 | 0.21% |
| 34 | Venezuela | 3,657,766 | 0.19% |
| 35 | Tanzania | 3,343,955 | 0.17% |
Map of world production of sugar cane
Share of the world total; Costa Rica is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,139,275 | +21% | 58,301 | 71.00 |
| 2023 | 3,422,767 | −12% | 58,917 | 58.09 |
| 2022 | 3,897,888 | −2.4% | 59,836 | 65.14 |
| 2021 | 3,995,020 | −4.8% | 60,668 | 65.85 |
| 2020 | 4,194,597 | +4.6% | 56,191 | 74.65 |
| 2019 | 4,009,954 | +0.0% | 58,539 | 68.50 |
| 2018 | 4,007,955 | −3.6% | 60,235 | 66.54 |
| 2017 | 4,158,370 | −2.5% | 64,250 | 64.72 |
| 2016 | 4,265,913 | −1.8% | 65,485 | 65.14 |
| 2015 | 4,344,048 | −3.3% | 64,676 | 67.17 |
| 2014 | 4,492,123 | +1.8% | 63,205 | 71.07 |
| 2013 | 4,411,088 | +10% | 63,316 | 69.67 |
| 2012 | 4,005,752 | +17% | 57,600 | 69.54 |
| 2011 | 3,418,193 | −8.5% | 57,480 | 59.47 |
| 2010 | 3,734,732 | −8.9% | 55,730 | 67.01 |
| 2009 | 4,100,000 | −2.4% | 53,030 | 77.31 |
| 2008 | 4,200,000 | −8.7% | 54,550 | 76.99 |
| 2007 | 4,600,000 | 0.0% | 56,200 | 81.85 |
| 2006 | 4,600,000 | +15% | 53,300 | 86.30 |
| 2005 | 4,000,000 | −4.8% | 48,000 | 83.33 |
| 2004 | 4,200,000 | −4.5% | 49,210 | 85.35 |
| 2003 | 4,400,000 | +16% | 49,000 | 89.80 |
| 2002 | 3,800,000 | −5.0% | 48,000 | 79.17 |
| 2001 | 4,000,000 | +5.3% | 48,000 | 83.33 |
| 2000 | 3,800,000 | +2.7% | 47,200 | 80.51 |
| 1999 | 3,700,000 | −4.4% | 46,000 | 80.43 |
| 1998 | 3,870,000 | −0.3% | 46,000 | 84.13 |
| 1997 | 3,880,000 | +16% | 44,200 | 87.78 |
| 1996 | 3,350,000 | −8.0% | 42,900 | 78.09 |
| 1995 | 3,640,000 | +14% | 42,830 | 84.99 |
| 1994 | 3,200,000 | +0.6% | 39,800 | 80.40 |
| 1993 | 3,180,000 | +4.6% | 38,700 | 82.17 |
| 1992 | 3,040,000 | +7.4% | 38,000 | 80.00 |
| 1991 | 2,830,000 | +7.6% | 37,000 | 76.49 |
| 1990 | 2,630,000 | +11% | 29,500 | 89.15 |
| 1989 | 2,370,000 | −12% | 40,000 | 59.25 |
| 1988 | 2,680,461 | +0.2% | 47,865 | 56.00 |
| 1987 | 2,674,639 | −4.5% | 47,761 | 56.00 |
| 1986 | 2,801,814 | −5.0% | 50,032 | 56.00 |
| 1985 | 2,949,551 | +0.5% | 49,405 | 59.70 |
| 1984 | 2,935,809 | +15% | 52,425 | 56.00 |
| 1983 | 2,543,489 | +4.0% | 45,419 | 56.00 |
| 1982 | 2,446,200 | −3.0% | 43,682 | 56.00 |
| 1981 | 2,521,865 | +0.2% | 45,018 | 56.02 |
| 1980 | 2,516,456 | −3.8% | 44,937 | 56.00 |
| 1979 | 2,615,128 | +1.4% | 46,699 | 56.00 |
| 1978 | 2,578,741 | +2.4% | 46,049 | 56.00 |
| 1977 | 2,519,421 | +9.9% | 40,000 | 62.99 |
| 1976 | 2,291,585 | −1.4% | 38,130 | 60.10 |
| 1975 | 2,323,870 | +6.0% | 37,019 | 62.78 |
| 1974 | 2,192,581 | −6.4% | 36,763 | 59.64 |
| 1973 | 2,341,294 | +1.7% | 38,763 | 60.40 |
| 1972 | 2,301,427 | +9.7% | 39,216 | 58.69 |
| 1971 | 2,097,983 | −1.7% | 36,400 | 57.64 |
| 1970 | 2,134,787 | +19% | 38,100 | 56.03 |
| 1969 | 1,792,224 | +3.8% | 33,300 | 53.82 |
| 1968 | 1,726,711 | +5.0% | 32,000 | 53.96 |
| 1967 | 1,645,187 | −1.2% | 30,600 | 53.76 |
| 1966 | 1,664,443 | +19% | 31,600 | 52.67 |
| 1965 | 1,397,153 | +5.0% | 26,700 | 52.33 |
| 1964 | 1,330,361 | +5.7% | 25,800 | 51.56 |
| 1963 | 1,258,117 | +16% | 24,700 | 50.94 |
| 1962 | 1,085,835 | +1.5% | 21,500 | 50.50 |
| 1961 | 1,069,722 | — | 21,200 | 50.46 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 1,229 t USD 1.0 m
- Exporter rank
- 12 of 56
- Imports
- 112 t USD 268,000
- Importer rank
- 34 of 84
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 sugar cane in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica produced 4.1 million t in 2024, 0.21% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Costa Rica rank in the world for production of sugar cane?
Costa Rica ranked 33rd of 94 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Brazil with 39.2% of the world total.
How has the production of sugar cane in Costa Rica changed?
It fell by 7.9% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.8% for the world. The record was 4.6 million t in 2006.
What is the yield of sugar cane in Costa Rica?
71.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (4.1 million t from 58,301 ha), against a world average of 72.5 t/ha.
Does Costa Rica export or import sugar cane?
In 2024 Costa Rica reported exports of 1,229 t (USD 1.0 m) and imports of 112 t (USD 268,000), 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. 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.