Tea leaves production in Kenya
In 2024 Kenya produced 2.7 million t of tea leaves, the 3rd largest in the world (8.21% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 39%. The record was 3.1 million t in 2020. Area harvested: 228,400 ha, yield 11.8 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 2.7 million t
- World rank
- 3 of 46
- 10-year change
- +39%
- Record
- 3.1 million t
- 2020
Tea leaves in Kenya, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Kenya compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 8.2%
- 8.1% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 11.8
- world 5.9 (+99%)
- kg per person
- 47.6
- world 4.01
- 10-year change
- +39%
- world +37%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 16,260,900 | 49.7% |
| 2 | India | 6,156,031 | 18.8% |
| 3 | Kenya | 2,687,200 | 8.2% |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 1,514,024 | 4.6% |
| 5 | Turkey | 1,414,000 | 4.3% |
Map of world production of tea leaves
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 | 2,687,200 | +4.2% | 228,400 | 11.77 |
| 2023 | 2,577,800 | +6.6% | 227,800 | 11.32 |
| 2022 | 2,418,200 | −0.5% | 225,800 | 10.71 |
| 2021 | 2,430,900 | −20% | 219,000 | 11.10 |
| 2020 | 3,050,000 | +53% | 269,400 | 11.32 |
| 2019 | 1,995,000 | −6.9% | 269,400 | 7.41 |
| 2018 | 2,143,000 | +12% | 236,200 | 9.07 |
| 2017 | 1,912,000 | −7.0% | 232,700 | 8.22 |
| 2016 | 2,057,000 | +19% | 218,500 | 9.41 |
| 2015 | 1,735,000 | −10% | 209,400 | 8.29 |
| 2014 | 1,935,000 | +2.9% | 203,006 | 9.53 |
| 2013 | 1,880,000 | +17% | 198,600 | 9.47 |
| 2012 | 1,606,000 | −2.3% | 190,600 | 8.43 |
| 2011 | 1,643,000 | −5.3% | 187,855 | 8.75 |
| 2010 | 1,735,000 | +27% | 171,916 | 10.09 |
| 2009 | 1,366,000 | −9.1% | 158,294 | 8.63 |
| 2008 | 1,503,000 | −6.5% | 157,700 | 9.53 |
| 2007 | 1,607,000 | +19% | 149,190 | 10.77 |
| 2006 | 1,350,000 | −5.5% | 147,080 | 9.18 |
| 2005 | 1,428,000 | +1.2% | 141,300 | 10.11 |
| 2004 | 1,411,000 | +10% | 136,700 | 10.32 |
| 2003 | 1,277,000 | +2.3% | 131,450 | 9.71 |
| 2002 | 1,248,000 | −2.6% | 131,450 | 9.49 |
| 2001 | 1,281,000 | +25% | 124,290 | 10.31 |
| 2000 | 1,027,000 | −5.0% | 120,390 | 8.53 |
| 1999 | 1,081,000 | −15% | 118,540 | 9.12 |
| 1998 | 1,279,000 | +33% | 118,650 | 10.78 |
| 1997 | 960,000 | −14% | 113,892 | 8.43 |
| 1996 | 1,118,000 | +5.2% | 113,680 | 9.83 |
| 1995 | 1,063,000 | +17% | 112,556 | 9.44 |
| 1994 | 911,000 | −0.8% | 110,221 | 8.27 |
| 1993 | 918,000 | +12% | 104,860 | 8.75 |
| 1992 | 818,000 | −7.6% | 101,845 | 8.03 |
| 1991 | 885,000 | +349% | 100,626 | 8.79 |
| 1990 | 197,000 | +9.1% | 96,981 | 2.03 |
| 1989 | 180,602 | +10% | 87,473 | 2.06 |
| 1988 | 164,030 | +5.3% | 86,800 | 1.89 |
| 1987 | 155,808 | +8.7% | 85,400 | 1.82 |
| 1986 | 143,317 | −2.6% | 84,400 | 1.70 |
| 1985 | 147,100 | +27% | 83,719 | 1.76 |
| 1984 | 116,200 | −2.6% | 83,350 | 1.39 |
| 1983 | 119,300 | +25% | 82,142 | 1.45 |
| 1982 | 95,600 | +5.1% | 81,082 | 1.18 |
| 1981 | 90,941 | +1.2% | 78,896 | 1.15 |
| 1980 | 89,893 | −9.5% | 76,541 | 1.17 |
| 1979 | 99,275 | +6.3% | 74,300 | 1.34 |
| 1978 | 93,373 | +8.2% | 72,048 | 1.30 |
| 1977 | 86,291 | +39% | 68,392 | 1.26 |
| 1976 | 61,984 | +9.3% | 65,957 | 0.94 |
| 1975 | 56,730 | +6.2% | 61,542 | 0.92 |
| 1974 | 53,440 | −5.5% | 58,419 | 0.91 |
| 1973 | 56,578 | +6.1% | 54,818 | 1.03 |
| 1972 | 53,322 | +47% | 49,763 | 1.07 |
| 1971 | 36,290 | −12% | 43,400 | 0.84 |
| 1970 | 41,077 | +14% | 40,278 | 1.02 |
| 1969 | 36,060 | +21% | 36,524 | 0.99 |
| 1968 | 29,764 | +30% | 33,562 | 0.89 |
| 1967 | 22,812 | −10% | 30,078 | 0.76 |
| 1966 | 25,419 | +28% | 27,340 | 0.93 |
| 1965 | 19,823 | −2.1% | 24,756 | 0.80 |
| 1964 | 20,241 | +12% | 23,062 | 0.88 |
| 1963 | 18,082 | +10% | 21,448 | 0.84 |
| 1962 | 16,428 | +30% | 19,893 | 0.83 |
| 1961 | 12,641 | — | 17,756 | 0.71 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 466,670 t USD 1.08 bn
- Exporter rank
- 1 of 143
- Imports
- 2,451 t USD 4.8 m
- Importer rank
- 71 of 191
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 tea leaves in Kenya?
Kenya produced 2.7 million t in 2024, 8.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Kenya rank in the world for production of tea leaves?
Kenya ranked 3rd of 46 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 49.7% of the world total.
How has the production of tea leaves in Kenya changed?
It rose by 39% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +37% for the world. The record was 3.1 million t in 2020.
What is the yield of tea leaves in Kenya?
11.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (2.7 million t from 228,400 ha), against a world average of 5.9 t/ha.
Does Kenya export or import tea leaves?
In 2024 Kenya reported exports of 466,670 t (USD 1.08 bn) and imports of 2,451 t (USD 4.8 m), 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.