Tobacco, unmanufactured production in Zambia
In 2024 Zambia produced 20,768 t of tobacco, unmanufactured, the 27th largest in the world (0.34% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 42%. The record was 58,211 t in 2005. Area harvested: 12,837 ha, yield 1.6 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 20,768 t
- World rank
- 27 of 118
- 10-year change
- −42%
- Record
- 58,211 t
- 2005
Tobacco, unmanufactured in Zambia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Zambia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.34%
- 0.49% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.6
- world 1.8 (−12%)
- kg per person
- 0.97
- world 0.74
- 10-year change
- −42%
- world −16%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | North Macedonia | 24,116 | 0.40% |
| 26 | Iran | 20,948 | 0.35% |
| 27 | Zambia | 20,768 | 0.34% |
| 28 | Spain | 19,410 | 0.32% |
| 29 | Laos | 19,300 | 0.32% |
Map of world production of tobacco, unmanufactured
Share of the world total; Zambia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20,768 | −36% | 12,837 | 1.62 |
| 2023 | 32,449 | +40% | 19,765 | 1.64 |
| 2022 | 23,144 | −33% | 14,020 | 1.65 |
| 2021 | 34,599 | −36% | 21,937 | 1.58 |
| 2020 | 53,937 | +241% | 34,589 | 1.56 |
| 2019 | 15,814 | −36% | 9,939 | 1.59 |
| 2018 | 24,894 | +21% | 13,913 | 1.79 |
| 2017 | 20,496 | +7.8% | 10,594 | 1.93 |
| 2016 | 19,017 | −29% | 10,538 | 1.80 |
| 2015 | 26,894 | −24% | 14,507 | 1.85 |
| 2014 | 35,546 | +19% | 25,050 | 1.42 |
| 2013 | 29,769 | −4.7% | 24,309 | 1.22 |
| 2012 | 31,244 | −18% | 28,926 | 1.08 |
| 2011 | 38,287 | +20% | 41,442 | 0.92 |
| 2010 | 31,880 | +17% | 59,988 | 0.53 |
| 2009 | 27,245 | +26% | 60,778 | 0.45 |
| 2008 | 21,664 | +24% | 62,877 | 0.34 |
| 2007 | 17,463 | −22% | 23,928 | 0.73 |
| 2006 | 22,427 | −61% | 45,000 | 0.50 |
| 2005 | 58,211 | +56% | 26,000 | 2.24 |
| 2004 | 37,311 | +86% | 23,000 | 1.62 |
| 2003 | 20,035 | +43% | 15,000 | 1.34 |
| 2002 | 13,982 | +20% | 11,600 | 1.21 |
| 2001 | 11,616 | +22% | 10,800 | 1.08 |
| 2000 | 9,533 | +11% | 9,000 | 1.06 |
| 1999 | 8,599 | +182% | 8,022 | 1.07 |
| 1998 | 3,053 | +0.9% | 2,813 | 1.09 |
| 1997 | 3,026 | −21% | 2,792 | 1.08 |
| 1996 | 3,842 | +1.1% | 3,653 | 1.05 |
| 1995 | 3,800 | −38% | 3,073 | 1.24 |
| 1994 | 6,098 | −8.3% | 6,350 | 0.96 |
| 1993 | 6,652 | +188% | 12,946 | 0.51 |
| 1992 | 2,308 | −58% | 5,274 | 0.44 |
| 1991 | 5,500 | +25% | 3,096 | 1.78 |
| 1990 | 4,400 | +22% | 5,071 | 0.87 |
| 1989 | 3,600 | −17% | 5,031 | 0.72 |
| 1988 | 4,350 | +23% | 4,889 | 0.89 |
| 1987 | 3,551 | −8.9% | 2,465 | 1.44 |
| 1986 | 3,899 | +46% | 3,840 | 1.02 |
| 1985 | 2,673 | −14% | 2,108 | 1.27 |
| 1984 | 3,121 | +8.6% | 2,820 | 1.11 |
| 1983 | 2,874 | +12% | 3,174 | 0.91 |
| 1982 | 2,573 | −14% | 2,619 | 0.98 |
| 1981 | 2,984 | −36% | 2,973 | 1.00 |
| 1980 | 4,681 | −5.8% | 4,500 | 1.04 |
| 1979 | 4,971 | +25% | 4,700 | 1.06 |
| 1978 | 3,964 | −33% | 4,000 | 0.99 |
| 1977 | 5,900 | −8.9% | 6,250 | 0.94 |
| 1976 | 6,474 | −7.2% | 9,521 | 0.68 |
| 1975 | 6,978 | +5.2% | 8,723 | 0.80 |
| 1974 | 6,631 | −0.9% | 6,739 | 0.98 |
| 1973 | 6,693 | +13% | 5,413 | 1.24 |
| 1972 | 5,917 | −6.0% | 4,921 | 1.20 |
| 1971 | 6,297 | +25% | 5,634 | 1.12 |
| 1970 | 5,050 | −5.4% | 5,466 | 0.92 |
| 1969 | 5,338 | −20% | 5,829 | 0.92 |
| 1968 | 6,679 | +25% | 5,925 | 1.13 |
| 1967 | 5,353 | −27% | 4,605 | 1.16 |
| 1966 | 7,367 | −19% | 6,867 | 1.07 |
| 1965 | 9,119 | −23% | 12,674 | 0.72 |
| 1964 | 11,784 | +47% | 11,614 | 1.01 |
| 1963 | 8,020 | +1.0% | 9,599 | 0.84 |
| 1962 | 7,941 | +9.2% | 7,758 | 1.02 |
| 1961 | 7,273 | — | 7,820 | 0.93 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 38,376 t USD 186 m
- Exporter rank
- 13 of 101
- Imports
- 3 t USD 3,000
- Importer rank
- 136 of 139
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 tobacco, unmanufactured in Zambia?
Zambia produced 20,768 t in 2024, 0.34% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Zambia rank in the world for production of tobacco, unmanufactured?
Zambia ranked 27th of 118 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 37.3% of the world total.
How has the production of tobacco, unmanufactured in Zambia changed?
It fell by 42% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −16% for the world. The record was 58,211 t in 2005.
What is the yield of tobacco, unmanufactured in Zambia?
1.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (20,768 t from 12,837 ha), against a world average of 1.8 t/ha.
Does Zambia export or import unmanufactured tobacco?
In 2024 Zambia reported exports of 38,376 t (USD 186 m) and imports of 3 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. 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.