Sweet potatoes production in Tanzania
In 2024 Tanzania produced 2.2 million t of sweet potatoes, the 4th largest in the world (2.45% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 36%. The record was 5.4 million t in 2017. Area harvested: 346,027 ha, yield 6.4 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 2.2 million t
- World rank
- 4 of 111
- 10-year change
- −36%
- Record
- 5.4 million t
- 2017
Sweet potatoes in Tanzania, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Tanzania compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 2.4%
- 3.7% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 6.4
- world 12.6 (−49%)
- kg per person
- 32.5
- world 11.1
- 10-year change
- −36%
- world −3.1%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 6 | Indonesia | 1,479,470 | 1.6% |
Map of world production of sweet potatoes
Share of the world total; Tanzania is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,227,515 | +24% | 346,027 | 6.44 |
| 2023 | 1,798,000 | −2.6% | 279,305 | 6.44 |
| 2022 | 1,846,000 | −37% | 249,689 | 7.39 |
| 2021 | 2,914,195 | −14% | 396,974 | 7.34 |
| 2020 | 3,401,062 | −13% | 468,180 | 7.26 |
| 2019 | 3,921,590 | +4.7% | 539,513 | 7.27 |
| 2018 | 3,744,093 | −31% | 530,526 | 7.06 |
| 2017 | 5,440,824 | +37% | 733,726 | 7.42 |
| 2016 | 3,984,652 | +15% | 684,812 | 5.82 |
| 2015 | 3,454,493 | −1.3% | 746,601 | 4.63 |
| 2014 | 3,500,699 | +0.9% | 736,085 | 4.76 |
| 2013 | 3,470,304 | +15% | 788,603 | 4.40 |
| 2012 | 3,018,175 | −16% | 651,216 | 4.63 |
| 2011 | 3,573,302 | +47% | 699,073 | 5.11 |
| 2010 | 2,424,200 | +71% | 576,220 | 4.21 |
| 2009 | 1,417,390 | +2.8% | 651,940 | 2.17 |
| 2008 | 1,379,000 | +4.3% | 204,500 | 6.74 |
| 2007 | 1,322,000 | −5.3% | 371,871 | 3.55 |
| 2006 | 1,396,400 | −1.3% | 505,000 | 2.77 |
| 2005 | 1,414,820 | −5.8% | 469,110 | 3.02 |
| 2004 | 1,501,620 | +623% | 517,530 | 2.90 |
| 2003 | 207,830 | −86% | 135,470 | 1.53 |
| 2002 | 1,466,120 | +54% | 423,440 | 3.46 |
| 2001 | 950,100 | +22% | 511,510 | 1.86 |
| 2000 | 777,300 | +38% | 407,200 | 1.91 |
| 1999 | 565,220 | −11% | 282,020 | 2.00 |
| 1998 | 637,800 | +34% | 371,800 | 1.72 |
| 1997 | 477,700 | +14% | 260,200 | 1.84 |
| 1996 | 418,100 | −6.8% | 290,100 | 1.44 |
| 1995 | 448,800 | +58% | 293,100 | 1.53 |
| 1994 | 283,500 | +9.5% | 220,800 | 1.28 |
| 1993 | 258,800 | +0.7% | 215,500 | 1.20 |
| 1992 | 256,990 | −12% | 197,683 | 1.30 |
| 1991 | 290,800 | −27% | 232,000 | 1.25 |
| 1990 | 400,000 | +19% | 306,540 | 1.30 |
| 1989 | 337,310 | +37% | 198,540 | 1.70 |
| 1988 | 246,000 | −30% | 196,100 | 1.25 |
| 1987 | 352,200 | +21% | 272,100 | 1.29 |
| 1986 | 290,000 | −4.3% | 232,000 | 1.25 |
| 1985 | 303,000 | +45% | 290,000 | 1.04 |
| 1984 | 209,540 | +0.1% | 100,960 | 2.08 |
| 1983 | 209,360 | −31% | 116,840 | 1.79 |
| 1982 | 303,720 | −24% | 119,940 | 2.53 |
| 1981 | 400,000 | −27% | 130,000 | 3.08 |
| 1980 | 550,000 | −7.3% | 189,000 | 2.91 |
| 1979 | 593,040 | −15% | 190,000 | 3.12 |
| 1978 | 695,882 | +32% | 190,000 | 3.66 |
| 1977 | 527,000 | +2.7% | 180,000 | 2.93 |
| 1976 | 513,156 | +12% | 175,000 | 2.93 |
| 1975 | 458,785 | +19% | 160,000 | 2.87 |
| 1974 | 383,999 | +1.1% | 140,000 | 2.74 |
| 1973 | 379,944 | +70% | 130,000 | 2.92 |
| 1972 | 223,071 | −2.5% | 80,000 | 2.79 |
| 1971 | 228,824 | −6.4% | 60,000 | 3.81 |
| 1970 | 244,559 | +6.9% | 40,000 | 6.11 |
| 1969 | 228,800 | −9.5% | 34,000 | 6.73 |
| 1968 | 252,814 | −0.5% | 38,000 | 6.65 |
| 1967 | 254,102 | +7.2% | 37,000 | 6.87 |
| 1966 | 236,981 | +18% | 36,000 | 6.58 |
| 1965 | 200,498 | +2.7% | 35,000 | 5.73 |
| 1964 | 195,280 | −7.5% | 29,000 | 6.73 |
| 1963 | 211,000 | +0.5% | 29,000 | 7.28 |
| 1962 | 210,000 | −2.3% | 32,000 | 6.56 |
| 1961 | 215,000 | — | 31,000 | 6.94 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 12 t USD 13,000
- Exporter rank
- 76 of 97
- Imports
- 4 t USD 3,000
- Importer rank
- 132 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 Tanzania?
Tanzania produced 2.2 million t in 2024, 2.4% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Tanzania rank in the world for production of sweet potatoes?
Tanzania ranked 4th 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 Tanzania changed?
It fell by 36% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −3.1% for the world. The record was 5.4 million t in 2017.
What is the yield of sweet potatoes in Tanzania?
6.4 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (2.2 million t from 346,027 ha), against a world average of 12.6 t/ha.
Does Tanzania export or import sweet potatoes?
In 2024 Tanzania reported exports of 12 t (USD 13,000) and imports of 4 t (USD 3,000), 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 Tanzania 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.