Sweet potatoes production in Kenya
In 2024 Kenya produced 862,724 t of sweet potatoes, the 16th largest in the world (0.95% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 13%. The record was 1.2 million t in 2015. Area harvested: 68,449 ha, yield 12.6 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 862,724 t
- World rank
- 16 of 111
- 10-year change
- +13%
- Record
- 1.2 million t
- 2015
Sweet potatoes in Kenya, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Kenya compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.95%
- 0.81% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 12.6
- world 12.6 (+0.0%)
- kg per person
- 15.3
- world 11.1
- 10-year change
- +13%
- world −3.1%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Brazil | 970,050 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Burundi | 944,229 | 1.0% |
| 16 | Kenya | 862,724 | 0.95% |
| 17 | Papua New Guinea | 732,422 | 0.81% |
| 18 | Japan | 717,000 | 0.79% |
Map of world production of sweet potatoes
Share of the world total; Kenya is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 862,724 | +29% | 68,449 | 12.60 |
| 2023 | 669,100 | +12% | 54,423 | 12.29 |
| 2022 | 597,900 | −23% | 48,850 | 12.24 |
| 2021 | 777,141 | +13% | 65,758 | 11.82 |
| 2020 | 685,687 | −30% | 54,007 | 12.70 |
| 2019 | 976,691 | +12% | 57,535 | 16.98 |
| 2018 | 871,010 | +13% | 64,301 | 13.55 |
| 2017 | 769,389 | +10% | 63,598 | 12.10 |
| 2016 | 697,364 | −43% | 47,184 | 14.78 |
| 2015 | 1,232,332 | +61% | 72,162 | 17.08 |
| 2014 | 763,643 | +4.7% | 61,067 | 12.51 |
| 2013 | 729,645 | −15% | 58,509 | 12.47 |
| 2012 | 859,549 | +13% | 66,971 | 12.83 |
| 2011 | 759,471 | −7.5% | 61,902 | 12.27 |
| 2010 | 820,971 | −21% | 82,312 | 9.97 |
| 2009 | 1,034,204 | +16% | 77,821 | 13.29 |
| 2008 | 894,781 | +10% | 62,785 | 14.25 |
| 2007 | 811,531 | +12% | 61,111 | 13.28 |
| 2006 | 724,646 | +7.9% | 74,937 | 9.67 |
| 2005 | 671,709 | +18% | 61,300 | 10.96 |
| 2004 | 571,293 | −2.8% | 60,701 | 9.41 |
| 2003 | 587,700 | +14% | 58,770 | 10.00 |
| 2002 | 513,485 | −14% | 60,410 | 8.50 |
| 2001 | 598,680 | +13% | 66,520 | 9.00 |
| 2000 | 527,954 | −2.8% | 59,740 | 8.84 |
| 1999 | 543,089 | +37% | 51,320 | 10.58 |
| 1998 | 397,469 | +4.5% | 49,320 | 8.06 |
| 1997 | 380,290 | +43% | 34,150 | 11.14 |
| 1996 | 266,000 | −16% | 33,300 | 7.99 |
| 1995 | 315,461 | +11% | 31,323 | 10.07 |
| 1994 | 285,000 | −9.5% | 27,300 | 10.44 |
| 1993 | 315,000 | +26% | 32,720 | 9.63 |
| 1992 | 249,863 | −38% | 37,000 | 6.75 |
| 1991 | 405,444 | +68% | 37,070 | 10.94 |
| 1990 | 241,884 | −7.8% | 24,395 | 9.92 |
| 1989 | 262,280 | −52% | 28,900 | 9.08 |
| 1988 | 541,885 | +3.6% | 55,000 | 9.85 |
| 1987 | 523,281 | +3.6% | 53,000 | 9.87 |
| 1986 | 505,312 | +3.6% | 51,000 | 9.91 |
| 1985 | 487,958 | +74% | 50,000 | 9.76 |
| 1984 | 280,000 | +5.7% | 30,000 | 9.33 |
| 1983 | 265,000 | −50% | 29,000 | 9.14 |
| 1982 | 530,000 | +46% | 53,000 | 10.00 |
| 1981 | 364,000 | +4.0% | 36,400 | 10.00 |
| 1980 | 350,000 | +2.9% | 38,000 | 9.21 |
| 1979 | 340,000 | +3.1% | 38,000 | 8.95 |
| 1978 | 329,700 | +28% | 37,112 | 8.88 |
| 1977 | 258,000 | +9.8% | 35,955 | 7.18 |
| 1976 | 235,000 | −16% | 33,955 | 6.92 |
| 1975 | 280,000 | +3.7% | 32,000 | 8.75 |
| 1974 | 270,000 | +3.8% | 32,000 | 8.44 |
| 1973 | 260,000 | +4.0% | 31,000 | 8.39 |
| 1972 | 250,000 | +4.2% | 31,000 | 8.06 |
| 1971 | 240,000 | +4.3% | 30,000 | 8.00 |
| 1970 | 230,000 | +4.5% | 30,000 | 7.67 |
| 1969 | 220,000 | +4.8% | 29,000 | 7.59 |
| 1968 | 210,000 | +5.0% | 29,000 | 7.24 |
| 1967 | 200,000 | +0.5% | 28,000 | 7.14 |
| 1966 | 199,000 | +11% | 28,000 | 7.11 |
| 1965 | 180,000 | +5.9% | 27,000 | 6.67 |
| 1964 | 170,000 | +6.3% | 26,500 | 6.42 |
| 1963 | 160,000 | +6.7% | 26,000 | 6.15 |
| 1962 | 150,000 | +7.1% | 25,500 | 5.88 |
| 1961 | 140,000 | — | 25,000 | 5.60 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 1 t USD 2,000
- Exporter rank
- 93 of 97
- Imports
- 32 t USD 9,000
- Importer rank
- 103 of 143
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 sweet potatoes in Kenya?
Kenya produced 862,724 t in 2024, 0.95% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Kenya rank in the world for production of sweet potatoes?
Kenya ranked 16th of 111 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 56.5% of the world total.
How has the production of sweet potatoes in Kenya changed?
It rose by 13% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −3.1% for the world. The record was 1.2 million t in 2015.
What is the yield of sweet potatoes in Kenya?
12.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (862,724 t from 68,449 ha), against a world average of 12.6 t/ha.
Does Kenya export or import sweet potatoes?
In 2024 Kenya reported exports of 1 t (USD 2,000) and imports of 32 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. 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.