Yams production in Ghana
In 2024 Ghana produced 10.1 million t of yams, the 2nd largest in the world (10.9% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 42%. The record was 10.7 million t in 2022. Area harvested: 536,529 ha, yield 18.8 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 10.1 million t
- World rank
- 2 of 59
- 10-year change
- +42%
- Record
- 10.7 million t
- 2022
Yams in Ghana, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Ghana compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 10.9%
- 11.0% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 18.8
- world 8.4 (+123%)
- kg per person
- 294
- world 11.3
- 10-year change
- +42%
- world +42%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 65,322,032 | 70.7% |
| 2 | Ghana | 10,113,014 | 10.9% |
| 3 | Côte d'Ivoire | 7,660,870 | 8.3% |
| 4 | Benin | 3,353,473 | 3.6% |
Map of world production of yams
Share of the world total; Ghana is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,113,014 | −4.2% | 536,529 | 18.85 |
| 2023 | 10,551,331 | −1.4% | 568,184 | 18.57 |
| 2022 | 10,702,901 | +4.1% | 580,707 | 18.43 |
| 2021 | 10,278,000 | +15% | 551,000 | 18.65 |
| 2020 | 8,946,000 | +2.2% | 505,000 | 17.71 |
| 2019 | 8,754,000 | +11% | 500,000 | 17.51 |
| 2018 | 7,858,209 | +0.0% | 470,000 | 16.72 |
| 2017 | 7,856,899 | +5.6% | 458,480 | 17.14 |
| 2016 | 7,440,354 | +2.0% | 438,183 | 16.98 |
| 2015 | 7,296,150 | +2.5% | 430,198 | 16.96 |
| 2014 | 7,119,000 | +0.6% | 428,000 | 16.63 |
| 2013 | 7,074,574 | +6.6% | 421,558 | 16.78 |
| 2012 | 6,638,867 | +5.5% | 426,343 | 15.57 |
| 2011 | 6,295,453 | +5.6% | 403,798 | 15.59 |
| 2010 | 5,960,486 | +3.2% | 384,942 | 15.48 |
| 2009 | 5,777,850 | +18% | 378,740 | 15.26 |
| 2008 | 4,894,850 | +12% | 347,570 | 14.08 |
| 2007 | 4,375,990 | +2.1% | 323,590 | 13.52 |
| 2006 | 4,288,000 | +9.3% | 325,000 | 13.19 |
| 2005 | 3,923,000 | +0.8% | 363,000 | 10.81 |
| 2004 | 3,892,259 | +2.1% | 310,834 | 12.52 |
| 2003 | 3,812,800 | −2.2% | 321,400 | 11.86 |
| 2002 | 3,900,000 | +10.0% | 300,010 | 13.00 |
| 2001 | 3,546,739 | +5.5% | 287,386 | 12.34 |
| 2000 | 3,362,900 | +3.5% | 261,000 | 12.88 |
| 1999 | 3,249,040 | +20% | 242,700 | 13.39 |
| 1998 | 2,702,900 | +12% | 210,920 | 12.81 |
| 1997 | 2,407,900 | +5.9% | 187,400 | 12.85 |
| 1996 | 2,274,790 | +7.0% | 178,006 | 12.78 |
| 1995 | 2,125,700 | +25% | 176,100 | 12.07 |
| 1994 | 1,700,140 | −38% | 154,200 | 11.03 |
| 1993 | 2,720,300 | +17% | 206,700 | 13.16 |
| 1992 | 2,331,400 | −11% | 224,100 | 10.40 |
| 1991 | 2,631,900 | +200% | 227,300 | 11.58 |
| 1990 | 877,000 | −30% | 119,400 | 7.35 |
| 1989 | 1,258,000 | +39% | 217,000 | 5.80 |
| 1988 | 902,000 | −24% | 168,300 | 5.36 |
| 1987 | 1,185,400 | +13% | 204,400 | 5.80 |
| 1986 | 1,048,100 | +6.2% | 179,000 | 5.86 |
| 1985 | 987,000 | −16% | 178,000 | 5.54 |
| 1984 | 1,178,000 | +36% | 223,000 | 5.28 |
| 1983 | 866,000 | +47% | 143,000 | 6.06 |
| 1982 | 588,000 | −0.5% | 111,000 | 5.30 |
| 1981 | 591,000 | −9.1% | 116,000 | 5.09 |
| 1980 | 650,000 | +8.0% | 113,000 | 5.75 |
| 1979 | 602,000 | +11% | 105,000 | 5.73 |
| 1978 | 544,000 | +1.7% | 95,000 | 5.73 |
| 1977 | 535,000 | −7.0% | 89,000 | 6.01 |
| 1976 | 575,000 | −19% | 100,000 | 5.75 |
| 1975 | 709,000 | −17% | 117,000 | 6.06 |
| 1974 | 850,000 | +24% | 133,000 | 6.39 |
| 1973 | 686,000 | +1.0% | 130,000 | 5.28 |
| 1972 | 679,000 | −25% | 134,000 | 5.07 |
| 1971 | 909,000 | 0.0% | 172,000 | 5.28 |
| 1970 | 909,000 | −31% | 172,000 | 5.28 |
| 1969 | 1,325,000 | +7.2% | 117,000 | 11.32 |
| 1968 | 1,236,000 | +9.0% | 119,000 | 10.39 |
| 1967 | 1,133,800 | +30% | 99,000 | 11.45 |
| 1966 | 874,000 | −17% | 87,000 | 10.05 |
| 1965 | 1,055,000 | −8.5% | 95,000 | 11.11 |
| 1964 | 1,153,000 | +4.9% | 171,000 | 6.74 |
| 1963 | 1,099,000 | −0.1% | 162,000 | 6.78 |
| 1962 | 1,100,000 | 0.0% | 150,000 | 7.33 |
| 1961 | 1,100,000 | — | 150,000 | 7.33 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 61,049 t USD 61.1 m
- Exporter rank
- 1 of 52
- Imports
- 10 t USD 12,000
- Importer rank
- 64 of 85
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 yams in Ghana?
Ghana produced 10.1 million t in 2024, 10.9% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Ghana rank in the world for production of yams?
Ghana ranked 2nd of 59 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Nigeria with 70.7% of the world total.
How has the production of yams in Ghana changed?
It rose by 42% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +42% for the world. The record was 10.7 million t in 2022.
What is the yield of yams in Ghana?
18.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (10.1 million t from 536,529 ha), against a world average of 8.4 t/ha.
Does Ghana export or import yams?
In 2024 Ghana reported exports of 61,049 t (USD 61.1 m) and imports of 10 t (USD 12,000), 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 Ghana is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
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.