Sweet potatoes production in Nigeria
In 2024 Nigeria produced 4.1 million t of sweet potatoes, the 3rd largest in the world (4.50% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 9.5%. The record was 4.1 million t in 2019. Area harvested: 1.5 million ha, yield 2.7 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 4.1 million t
- World rank
- 3 of 111
- 10-year change
- +9.5%
- Record
- 4.1 million t
- 2019
Sweet potatoes in Nigeria, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Nigeria compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 4.5%
- 4.0% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.7
- world 12.6 (−78%)
- kg per person
- 17.6
- world 11.1
- 10-year change
- +9.5%
- world −3.1%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 51,354,274 | 56.5% |
| 2 | Malawi | 7,980,473 | 8.8% |
| 3 | Nigeria | 4,091,239 | 4.5% |
| 4 | Tanzania | 2,227,515 | 2.4% |
| 5 | Angola | 2,123,503 | 2.3% |
Map of world production of sweet potatoes
Share of the world total; Nigeria is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,091,239 | +0.2% | 1,509,659 | 2.71 |
| 2023 | 4,084,518 | −0.4% | 1,510,055 | 2.70 |
| 2022 | 4,099,190 | +0.2% | 1,508,514 | 2.72 |
| 2021 | 4,090,009 | +0.6% | 1,510,408 | 2.71 |
| 2020 | 4,064,354 | −1.9% | 1,511,243 | 2.69 |
| 2019 | 4,143,207 | +2.0% | 1,503,891 | 2.75 |
| 2018 | 4,062,466 | +1.9% | 1,516,091 | 2.68 |
| 2017 | 3,987,389 | +1.4% | 1,513,745 | 2.63 |
| 2016 | 3,933,480 | +2.0% | 1,481,837 | 2.65 |
| 2015 | 3,857,242 | +3.3% | 1,552,692 | 2.48 |
| 2014 | 3,734,749 | +1.6% | 1,506,706 | 2.48 |
| 2013 | 3,676,709 | +2.3% | 1,386,114 | 2.65 |
| 2012 | 3,592,440 | +2.2% | 1,332,406 | 2.70 |
| 2011 | 3,516,653 | +1.4% | 1,326,447 | 2.65 |
| 2010 | 3,467,073 | +5.1% | 1,298,486 | 2.67 |
| 2009 | 3,300,000 | −0.5% | 1,100,000 | 3.00 |
| 2008 | 3,318,000 | +36% | 1,106,000 | 3.00 |
| 2007 | 2,432,000 | −30% | 1,131,000 | 2.15 |
| 2006 | 3,462,000 | +8.0% | 1,021,000 | 3.39 |
| 2005 | 3,205,000 | +7.0% | 989,000 | 3.24 |
| 2004 | 2,996,000 | +7.0% | 954,000 | 3.14 |
| 2003 | 2,800,000 | +6.4% | 895,000 | 3.13 |
| 2002 | 2,631,000 | +6.4% | 877,000 | 3.00 |
| 2001 | 2,473,000 | +0.2% | 824,000 | 3.00 |
| 2000 | 2,468,000 | +0.7% | 823,000 | 3.00 |
| 1999 | 2,451,000 | +57% | 817,000 | 3.00 |
| 1998 | 1,560,000 | +4.5% | 282,200 | 5.53 |
| 1997 | 1,493,000 | +1.0% | 333,000 | 4.48 |
| 1996 | 1,478,000 | +27% | 301,000 | 4.91 |
| 1995 | 1,168,000 | +283% | 299,000 | 3.91 |
| 1994 | 305,000 | −15% | 69,000 | 4.42 |
| 1993 | 359,000 | +65% | 69,000 | 5.20 |
| 1992 | 218,000 | +18% | 51,000 | 4.27 |
| 1991 | 184,000 | +29% | 31,000 | 5.94 |
| 1990 | 143,000 | +19% | 28,000 | 5.11 |
| 1989 | 120,000 | +9.1% | 20,000 | 6.00 |
| 1988 | 110,000 | +18% | 15,000 | 7.33 |
| 1987 | 93,000 | +12% | 15,000 | 6.20 |
| 1986 | 83,000 | +3.8% | 13,000 | 6.38 |
| 1985 | 80,000 | −20% | 12,000 | 6.67 |
| 1984 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 14,000 | 7.14 |
| 1983 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 14,000 | 7.14 |
| 1982 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 13,000 | 7.69 |
| 1981 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 13,000 | 7.69 |
| 1980 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 12,000 | 8.33 |
| 1979 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 12,000 | 8.33 |
| 1978 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 12,000 | 8.33 |
| 1977 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 12,000 | 8.33 |
| 1976 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 11,000 | 9.09 |
| 1975 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 11,000 | 9.09 |
| 1974 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 11,000 | 9.09 |
| 1973 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 11,000 | 9.09 |
| 1972 | 100,000 | −9.1% | 11,000 | 9.09 |
| 1971 | 110,000 | −2.7% | 12,000 | 9.17 |
| 1970 | 113,000 | −41% | 12,000 | 9.42 |
| 1969 | 190,000 | +2.7% | 16,000 | 11.88 |
| 1968 | 185,000 | +3.4% | 15,000 | 12.33 |
| 1967 | 179,000 | +2.9% | 15,000 | 11.93 |
| 1966 | 174,000 | +3.0% | 14,000 | 12.43 |
| 1965 | 169,000 | +3.0% | 14,000 | 12.07 |
| 1964 | 164,000 | +3.1% | 14,000 | 11.71 |
| 1963 | 159,000 | +3.2% | 13,000 | 12.23 |
| 1962 | 154,000 | +3.4% | 13,000 | 11.85 |
| 1961 | 149,000 | — | 13,000 | 11.46 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 1,590 t USD 75,000
- Exporter rank
- 28 of 97
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 Nigeria?
Nigeria produced 4.1 million t in 2024, 4.5% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Nigeria rank in the world for production of sweet potatoes?
Nigeria ranked 3rd 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 Nigeria changed?
It rose by 9.5% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −3.1% for the world. The record was 4.1 million t in 2019.
What is the yield of sweet potatoes in Nigeria?
2.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (4.1 million t from 1.5 million ha), against a world average of 12.6 t/ha.
Does Nigeria export or import sweet potatoes?
In 2024 Nigeria reported exports of 1,590 t (USD 75,000) and no imports, 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 Nigeria is estimated 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.