Tea leaves production in Malawi
In 2024 Malawi produced 247,670 t of tea leaves, the 12th largest in the world (0.76% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 25%. The record was 268,000 t in 2022. Area harvested: 19,883 ha, yield 12.5 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 247,670 t
- World rank
- 12 of 46
- 10-year change
- +25%
- Record
- 268,000 t
- 2022
Tea leaves in Malawi, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Malawi compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.76%
- 0.83% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 12.5
- world 5.9 (+111%)
- kg per person
- 11.4
- world 4.01
- 10-year change
- +25%
- world +37%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Argentina | 356,753 | 1.1% |
| 11 | Japan | 319,300 | 0.98% |
| 12 | Malawi | 247,670 | 0.76% |
| 13 | Rwanda | 160,592 | 0.49% |
| 14 | Nepal | 135,399 | 0.41% |
Map of world production of tea leaves
Share of the world total; Malawi is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 247,670 | −0.0% | 19,883 | 12.46 |
| 2023 | 247,735 | −7.6% | 20,063 | 12.35 |
| 2022 | 268,000 | +11% | 21,893 | 12.24 |
| 2021 | 242,500 | −4.5% | 19,753 | 12.28 |
| 2020 | 253,800 | +21% | 20,975 | 12.10 |
| 2019 | 210,000 | −4.5% | 17,522 | 11.98 |
| 2018 | 220,000 | +11% | 18,594 | 11.83 |
| 2017 | 198,000 | +5.3% | 17,014 | 11.64 |
| 2016 | 188,000 | +9.3% | 16,234 | 11.58 |
| 2015 | 172,000 | −13% | 15,033 | 11.44 |
| 2014 | 198,000 | −2.0% | 17,515 | 11.30 |
| 2013 | 202,000 | +9.2% | 18,094 | 11.16 |
| 2012 | 185,000 | −9.3% | 16,774 | 11.03 |
| 2011 | 204,000 | −8.9% | 18,739 | 10.89 |
| 2010 | 224,000 | −2.2% | 20,829 | 10.75 |
| 2009 | 229,000 | +27% | 21,404 | 10.70 |
| 2008 | 181,000 | −13% | 17,131 | 10.57 |
| 2007 | 209,000 | +6.6% | 19,500 | 10.72 |
| 2006 | 196,000 | +19% | 19,000 | 10.32 |
| 2005 | 165,000 | −24% | 18,000 | 9.17 |
| 2004 | 218,000 | +20% | 18,694 | 11.66 |
| 2003 | 181,000 | +6.5% | 18,694 | 9.68 |
| 2002 | 170,000 | +6.3% | 18,800 | 9.04 |
| 2001 | 160,000 | −13% | 18,800 | 8.51 |
| 2000 | 184,000 | +10% | 18,162 | 10.13 |
| 1999 | 167,000 | −4.6% | 21,565 | 7.74 |
| 1998 | 175,000 | +36% | 18,800 | 9.31 |
| 1997 | 129,000 | −15% | 18,800 | 6.86 |
| 1996 | 151,000 | +1.3% | 18,800 | 8.03 |
| 1995 | 149,000 | −2.6% | 18,344 | 8.12 |
| 1994 | 153,000 | −11% | 18,800 | 8.14 |
| 1993 | 172,000 | +41% | 18,500 | 9.30 |
| 1992 | 122,000 | −31% | 18,300 | 6.67 |
| 1991 | 176,000 | +352% | 22,853 | 7.70 |
| 1990 | 38,921 | −1.4% | 18,500 | 2.10 |
| 1989 | 39,469 | −1.7% | 18,400 | 2.15 |
| 1988 | 40,157 | +26% | 18,600 | 2.16 |
| 1987 | 31,908 | −18% | 18,400 | 1.73 |
| 1986 | 38,973 | −2.5% | 18,000 | 2.17 |
| 1985 | 39,954 | +6.5% | 18,000 | 2.22 |
| 1984 | 37,530 | +17% | 17,800 | 2.11 |
| 1983 | 32,011 | −17% | 17,000 | 1.88 |
| 1982 | 38,484 | +20% | 17,500 | 2.20 |
| 1981 | 31,965 | +6.9% | 17,500 | 1.83 |
| 1980 | 29,915 | −8.3% | 17,500 | 1.71 |
| 1979 | 32,609 | +2.9% | 17,500 | 1.86 |
| 1978 | 31,690 | +0.2% | 17,700 | 1.79 |
| 1977 | 31,628 | +12% | 17,300 | 1.83 |
| 1976 | 28,307 | +7.9% | 17,200 | 1.65 |
| 1975 | 26,238 | +12% | 16,000 | 1.64 |
| 1974 | 23,405 | −0.8% | 16,500 | 1.42 |
| 1973 | 23,600 | +14% | 15,200 | 1.55 |
| 1972 | 20,684 | +11% | 14,800 | 1.40 |
| 1971 | 18,597 | −0.7% | 14,500 | 1.28 |
| 1970 | 18,733 | +11% | 14,300 | 1.31 |
| 1969 | 16,919 | +6.9% | 15,000 | 1.13 |
| 1968 | 15,830 | −5.9% | 14,000 | 1.13 |
| 1967 | 16,828 | +9.4% | 13,500 | 1.25 |
| 1966 | 15,377 | +19% | 13,000 | 1.18 |
| 1965 | 12,973 | +4.8% | 13,643 | 0.95 |
| 1964 | 12,383 | +3.8% | 13,230 | 0.94 |
| 1963 | 11,929 | −11% | 12,804 | 0.93 |
| 1962 | 13,336 | −6.7% | 12,507 | 1.07 |
| 1961 | 14,288 | — | 11,000 | 1.30 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 28,252 t USD 69.4 m
- Exporter rank
- 10 of 143
- Imports
- 109 t USD 350,000
- Importer rank
- 148 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 Malawi?
Malawi produced 247,670 t in 2024, 0.76% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Malawi rank in the world for production of tea leaves?
Malawi ranked 12th 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 Malawi changed?
It rose by 25% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +37% for the world. The record was 268,000 t in 2022.
What is the yield of tea leaves in Malawi?
12.5 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (247,670 t from 19,883 ha), against a world average of 5.9 t/ha.
Does Malawi export or import tea leaves?
In 2024 Malawi reported exports of 28,252 t (USD 69.4 m) and imports of 109 t (USD 350,000), 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 Malawi 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.