Sugar cane production in Sri Lanka
In 2024 Sri Lanka produced 696,971 t of sugar cane, the 55th largest in the world (0.04% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 27%. The record was 1.5 million t in 1994. Area harvested: 18,842 ha, yield 37.0 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 696,971 t
- World rank
- 55 of 94
- 10-year change
- −27%
- Record
- 1.5 million t
- 1994
Sugar cane in Sri Lanka, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Sri Lanka compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.04%
- 0.05% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 37.0
- world 72.5 (−49%)
- kg per person
- 30.2
- world 238
- 10-year change
- −27%
- world +2.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | Ethiopia | 997,296 | 0.05% |
| 54 | Cameroon | 872,377 | 0.04% |
| 55 | Sri Lanka | 696,971 | 0.04% |
| 56 | Congo | 677,152 | 0.03% |
| 57 | Cambodia | 645,720 | 0.03% |
Map of world production of sugar cane
Share of the world total; Sri Lanka is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 696,971 | −13% | 18,842 | 36.99 |
| 2023 | 805,616 | −8.1% | 15,896 | 50.68 |
| 2022 | 876,660 | +6.2% | 15,377 | 57.01 |
| 2021 | 825,541 | −3.5% | 14,361 | 57.48 |
| 2020 | 855,045 | +31% | 14,428 | 59.26 |
| 2019 | 653,053 | +1.3% | 12,960 | 50.39 |
| 2018 | 644,785 | −1.5% | 15,732 | 40.99 |
| 2017 | 654,522 | −20% | 17,900 | 36.57 |
| 2016 | 815,312 | +13% | 23,557 | 34.61 |
| 2015 | 718,685 | −25% | 17,048 | 42.16 |
| 2014 | 960,392 | +0.0% | 20,853 | 46.06 |
| 2013 | 960,270 | +43% | 20,790 | 46.19 |
| 2012 | 673,470 | −7.6% | 12,610 | 53.41 |
| 2011 | 729,010 | −20% | 12,190 | 59.80 |
| 2010 | 914,850 | −0.5% | 14,850 | 61.61 |
| 2009 | 919,530 | +15% | 13,730 | 66.97 |
| 2008 | 799,450 | +2.2% | 12,910 | 61.92 |
| 2007 | 782,510 | −31% | 14,150 | 55.30 |
| 2006 | 1,136,600 | +15% | 18,780 | 60.52 |
| 2005 | 991,550 | +0.1% | 16,910 | 58.64 |
| 2004 | 990,430 | −2.5% | 16,760 | 59.09 |
| 2003 | 1,015,480 | +5.4% | 16,800 | 60.45 |
| 2002 | 963,050 | −4.3% | 17,510 | 55.00 |
| 2001 | 1,005,850 | −5.6% | 18,150 | 55.42 |
| 2000 | 1,065,520 | +4.3% | 17,930 | 59.43 |
| 1999 | 1,021,350 | +7.9% | 18,490 | 55.24 |
| 1998 | 946,247 | −32% | 17,763 | 53.27 |
| 1997 | 1,382,219 | −4.6% | 24,547 | 56.31 |
| 1996 | 1,448,303 | +14% | 24,842 | 58.30 |
| 1995 | 1,272,974 | −17% | 22,947 | 55.47 |
| 1994 | 1,528,840 | +89% | 23,582 | 64.83 |
| 1993 | 809,733 | +11% | 23,741 | 34.11 |
| 1992 | 731,108 | −14% | 25,048 | 29.19 |
| 1991 | 850,824 | +3.8% | 21,225 | 40.09 |
| 1990 | 820,000 | +3.4% | 21,000 | 39.05 |
| 1989 | 793,400 | −5.4% | 22,270 | 35.63 |
| 1988 | 839,000 | +27% | 21,870 | 38.36 |
| 1987 | 659,696 | −11% | 19,776 | 33.36 |
| 1986 | 737,393 | −2.2% | 21,853 | 33.74 |
| 1985 | 754,100 | +30% | 18,580 | 40.59 |
| 1984 | 578,240 | +54% | 14,910 | 38.78 |
| 1983 | 375,000 | +7.1% | 16,550 | 22.66 |
| 1982 | 350,000 | 0.0% | 9,000 | 38.89 |
| 1981 | 350,000 | −1.7% | 8,800 | 39.77 |
| 1980 | 356,000 | +6.3% | 8,300 | 42.89 |
| 1979 | 335,000 | +8.1% | 7,000 | 47.86 |
| 1978 | 310,000 | 0.0% | 6,800 | 45.59 |
| 1977 | 310,000 | +48% | 6,800 | 45.59 |
| 1976 | 210,000 | −21% | 4,200 | 50.00 |
| 1975 | 265,000 | +39% | 5,300 | 50.00 |
| 1974 | 190,000 | +19% | 3,800 | 50.00 |
| 1973 | 160,000 | −20% | 3,200 | 50.00 |
| 1972 | 200,000 | 0.0% | 4,200 | 47.62 |
| 1971 | 200,000 | +25% | 4,400 | 45.45 |
| 1970 | 160,000 | +10% | 3,800 | 42.11 |
| 1969 | 145,000 | +7.4% | 3,700 | 39.19 |
| 1968 | 135,000 | −16% | 3,850 | 35.06 |
| 1967 | 160,000 | +21% | 5,000 | 32.00 |
| 1966 | 132,000 | −12% | 4,600 | 28.70 |
| 1965 | 150,000 | −3.2% | 6,825 | 21.98 |
| 1964 | 155,000 | +20% | 7,027 | 22.06 |
| 1963 | 129,000 | +15% | 6,956 | 18.55 |
| 1962 | 112,000 | −4.3% | 7,275 | 15.40 |
| 1961 | 117,000 | — | 7,300 | 16.03 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of sugar cane in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka produced 696,971 t in 2024, 0.04% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Sri Lanka rank in the world for production of sugar cane?
Sri Lanka ranked 55th 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 Sri Lanka changed?
It fell by 27% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.8% for the world. The record was 1.5 million t in 1994.
What is the yield of sugar cane in Sri Lanka?
37.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (696,971 t from 18,842 ha), against a world average of 72.5 t/ha.
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.