Sugar cane production in Zambia
In 2024 Zambia produced 4.9 million t of sugar cane, the 31st largest in the world (0.25% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 6.4%. This is the highest figure on record. Area harvested: 47,200 ha, yield 103.7 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 4.9 million t
- World rank
- 31 of 94
- 10-year change
- +6.4%
- Record
- 4.9 million t
- 2024
Sugar cane in Zambia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Zambia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.25%
- 0.24% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 103.7
- world 72.5 (+43%)
- kg per person
- 230
- world 238
- 10-year change
- +6.4%
- world +2.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Eswatini | 5,534,000 | 0.29% |
| 30 | Dominican Republic | 4,948,100 | 0.26% |
| 31 | Zambia | 4,893,717 | 0.25% |
| 32 | Sudan | 4,220,463 | 0.22% |
| 33 | Costa Rica | 4,139,275 | 0.21% |
Map of world production of sugar cane
Share of the world total; Zambia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,893,717 | +3.0% | 47,200 | 103.68 |
| 2023 | 4,750,000 | +4.4% | 45,800 | 103.71 |
| 2022 | 4,550,000 | +7.1% | 43,859 | 103.74 |
| 2021 | 4,250,000 | −5.1% | 40,944 | 103.80 |
| 2020 | 4,479,027 | −4.3% | 43,190 | 103.71 |
| 2019 | 4,682,000 | +1.1% | 45,100 | 103.81 |
| 2018 | 4,630,000 | +5.4% | 44,527 | 103.98 |
| 2017 | 4,391,847 | +7.6% | 42,163 | 104.16 |
| 2016 | 4,083,000 | −1.7% | 39,156 | 104.28 |
| 2015 | 4,155,000 | −9.7% | 39,933 | 104.05 |
| 2014 | 4,600,000 | 0.0% | 44,488 | 103.40 |
| 2013 | 4,600,000 | +7.0% | 45,000 | 102.22 |
| 2012 | 4,300,000 | +2.4% | 43,000 | 100.00 |
| 2011 | 4,200,000 | +14% | 40,000 | 105.00 |
| 2010 | 3,700,000 | +16% | 35,000 | 105.71 |
| 2009 | 3,200,000 | +56% | 30,500 | 104.92 |
| 2008 | 2,050,000 | −16% | 19,500 | 105.13 |
| 2007 | 2,430,000 | −0.8% | 24,000 | 101.25 |
| 2006 | 2,450,000 | +6.5% | 24,000 | 102.08 |
| 2005 | 2,300,000 | −2.1% | 22,000 | 104.55 |
| 2004 | 2,350,000 | +2.2% | 22,500 | 104.44 |
| 2003 | 2,300,000 | 0.0% | 22,000 | 104.55 |
| 2002 | 2,300,000 | +15% | 22,000 | 104.55 |
| 2001 | 2,000,000 | +25% | 19,000 | 105.26 |
| 2000 | 1,600,000 | −3.0% | 15,000 | 106.67 |
| 1999 | 1,650,000 | +6.5% | 16,000 | 103.13 |
| 1998 | 1,550,000 | +3.3% | 15,000 | 103.33 |
| 1997 | 1,500,000 | +7.1% | 14,000 | 107.14 |
| 1996 | 1,400,000 | +6.9% | 13,000 | 107.69 |
| 1995 | 1,310,000 | −0.1% | 12,000 | 109.17 |
| 1994 | 1,311,000 | +7.5% | 11,986 | 109.38 |
| 1993 | 1,220,040 | −6.2% | 11,497 | 106.12 |
| 1992 | 1,300,000 | +13% | 13,500 | 96.30 |
| 1991 | 1,150,000 | +2.1% | 12,000 | 95.83 |
| 1990 | 1,126,540 | −0.9% | 11,974 | 94.08 |
| 1989 | 1,136,963 | −14% | 12,146 | 93.61 |
| 1988 | 1,321,838 | +6.5% | 11,742 | 112.57 |
| 1987 | 1,241,327 | +5.8% | 10,861 | 114.29 |
| 1986 | 1,173,660 | −2.8% | 9,667 | 121.41 |
| 1985 | 1,207,262 | +2.4% | 10,227 | 118.05 |
| 1984 | 1,178,516 | +8.5% | 9,672 | 121.85 |
| 1983 | 1,086,165 | +7.5% | 9,468 | 114.72 |
| 1982 | 1,010,473 | +13% | 9,721 | 103.95 |
| 1981 | 893,178 | −2.9% | 10,034 | 89.02 |
| 1980 | 919,717 | +3.6% | 9,423 | 97.60 |
| 1979 | 887,515 | +15% | 9,421 | 94.21 |
| 1978 | 774,811 | +12% | 6,420 | 120.69 |
| 1977 | 691,369 | −11% | 6,079 | 113.73 |
| 1976 | 779,611 | +1.5% | 7,156 | 108.95 |
| 1975 | 768,153 | +35% | 7,019 | 109.44 |
| 1974 | 570,243 | +17% | 5,328 | 107.03 |
| 1973 | 487,693 | +23% | 4,251 | 114.72 |
| 1972 | 397,363 | +20% | 3,665 | 108.42 |
| 1971 | 330,737 | +2.8% | 3,574 | 92.54 |
| 1970 | 321,586 | +25% | 2,872 | 111.97 |
| 1969 | 256,701 | +42% | 2,453 | 104.65 |
| 1968 | 181,204 | — | 1,457 | 124.37 |
| 1967 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1966 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — | — | — |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 1 t USD 0
- Exporter rank
- 56 of 56
- Imports
- 12 t USD 9,000
- Importer rank
- 57 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 Zambia?
Zambia produced 4.9 million t in 2024, 0.25% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Zambia rank in the world for production of sugar cane?
Zambia ranked 31st 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 Zambia changed?
It rose by 6.4% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.8% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
What is the yield of sugar cane in Zambia?
103.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (4.9 million t from 47,200 ha), against a world average of 72.5 t/ha.
Does Zambia export or import sugar cane?
In 2024 Zambia reported exports of 1 t (USD 0) and imports of 12 t (USD 9,000), 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 Zambia is imputed by FAO. 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.