Yams production in Jamaica
In 2024 Jamaica produced 191,667 t of yams, the 14th largest in the world (0.21% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 42%. The record was 253,371 t in 1996. Area harvested: 10,772 ha, yield 17.8 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 191,667 t
- World rank
- 14 of 59
- 10-year change
- +42%
- Record
- 253,371 t
- 1996
Yams in Jamaica, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Jamaica compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.21%
- 0.21% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 17.8
- world 8.4 (+111%)
- kg per person
- 67.5
- world 11.3
- 10-year change
- +42%
- world +42%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Gabon | 229,932 | 0.25% |
| 13 | Central African Republic | 227,415 | 0.25% |
| 14 | Jamaica | 191,667 | 0.21% |
| 15 | Sudan | 173,485 | 0.19% |
| 16 | Japan | 165,669 | 0.18% |
Map of world production of yams
Share of the world total; Jamaica is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 191,667 | −1.7% | 10,772 | 17.79 |
| 2023 | 194,959 | −6.0% | 10,984 | 17.75 |
| 2022 | 207,483 | +12% | 11,238 | 18.46 |
| 2021 | 185,637 | +12% | 10,331 | 17.97 |
| 2020 | 165,169 | +0.1% | 9,669 | 17.08 |
| 2019 | 165,047 | +11% | 9,352 | 17.65 |
| 2018 | 148,675 | +3.0% | 8,861 | 16.78 |
| 2017 | 144,319 | −7.5% | 8,761 | 16.47 |
| 2016 | 156,103 | +14% | 9,153 | 17.05 |
| 2015 | 136,731 | +1.1% | 8,519 | 16.05 |
| 2014 | 135,303 | −2.5% | 8,081 | 16.74 |
| 2013 | 138,834 | −4.3% | 8,390 | 16.55 |
| 2012 | 145,059 | +7.8% | 8,481 | 17.10 |
| 2011 | 134,620 | −1.6% | 8,323 | 16.17 |
| 2010 | 136,785 | +9.9% | 8,137 | 16.81 |
| 2009 | 124,516 | +22% | 7,447 | 16.72 |
| 2008 | 102,284 | −9.6% | 6,669 | 15.34 |
| 2007 | 113,124 | −8.0% | 7,235 | 15.64 |
| 2006 | 123,005 | +15% | 7,431 | 16.55 |
| 2005 | 107,295 | −21% | 7,109 | 15.09 |
| 2004 | 136,167 | −11% | 8,563 | 15.90 |
| 2003 | 152,238 | +2.8% | 9,174 | 16.59 |
| 2002 | 148,152 | −6.0% | 8,989 | 16.48 |
| 2001 | 157,557 | +6.7% | 9,568 | 16.47 |
| 2000 | 147,709 | −25% | 9,530 | 15.50 |
| 1999 | 195,689 | −1.4% | 11,949 | 16.38 |
| 1998 | 198,402 | −6.7% | 12,423 | 15.97 |
| 1997 | 212,567 | −16% | 13,442 | 15.81 |
| 1996 | 253,371 | +5.4% | 14,989 | 16.90 |
| 1995 | 240,371 | +2.8% | 14,305 | 16.80 |
| 1994 | 233,912 | +5.4% | 14,544 | 16.08 |
| 1993 | 221,928 | +3.5% | 13,821 | 16.06 |
| 1992 | 214,386 | +15% | 13,981 | 15.33 |
| 1991 | 186,104 | +15% | 13,917 | 13.37 |
| 1990 | 161,462 | +21% | 12,349 | 13.07 |
| 1989 | 133,281 | −20% | 10,644 | 12.52 |
| 1988 | 166,864 | −5.0% | 13,009 | 12.83 |
| 1987 | 175,628 | +6.0% | 13,851 | 12.68 |
| 1986 | 165,633 | +1.1% | 12,881 | 12.86 |
| 1985 | 163,763 | +9.9% | 12,774 | 12.82 |
| 1984 | 149,060 | +14% | 11,781 | 12.65 |
| 1983 | 130,633 | +12% | 10,642 | 12.28 |
| 1982 | 116,978 | −14% | 9,454 | 12.37 |
| 1981 | 136,410 | +2.6% | 10,629 | 12.83 |
| 1980 | 132,893 | −15% | 10,646 | 12.48 |
| 1979 | 157,169 | +4.9% | 12,458 | 12.62 |
| 1978 | 149,767 | +20% | 13,333 | 11.23 |
| 1977 | 124,941 | +4.5% | 11,467 | 10.90 |
| 1976 | 119,566 | −11% | 11,082 | 10.79 |
| 1975 | 134,254 | +2.2% | 11,958 | 11.23 |
| 1974 | 131,323 | +2.9% | 11,218 | 11.71 |
| 1973 | 127,650 | +0.1% | 11,279 | 11.32 |
| 1972 | 127,489 | +3.8% | 11,387 | 11.20 |
| 1971 | 122,864 | +52% | 10,588 | 11.60 |
| 1970 | 80,825 | +29% | 7,118 | 11.36 |
| 1969 | 62,556 | −5.7% | 5,562 | 11.25 |
| 1968 | 66,306 | −11% | 6,090 | 10.89 |
| 1967 | 74,580 | +17% | 6,871 | 10.85 |
| 1966 | 63,486 | +10% | 4,861 | 13.06 |
| 1965 | 57,479 | +4.9% | 3,922 | 14.66 |
| 1964 | 54,791 | +9.8% | 3,743 | 14.64 |
| 1963 | 49,895 | +0.7% | 3,400 | 14.68 |
| 1962 | 49,550 | +15% | 3,400 | 14.57 |
| 1961 | 42,918 | — | 3,000 | 14.31 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 17,387 t USD 47.8 m
- Exporter rank
- 3 of 52
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 Jamaica?
Jamaica produced 191,667 t in 2024, 0.21% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Jamaica rank in the world for production of yams?
Jamaica ranked 14th of 59 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Nigeria with 70.7% of the world total.
How has the production of yams in Jamaica changed?
It rose by 42% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +42% for the world. The record was 253,371 t in 1996.
What is the yield of yams in Jamaica?
17.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (191,667 t from 10,772 ha), against a world average of 8.4 t/ha.
Does Jamaica export or import yams?
In 2024 Jamaica reported exports of 17,387 t (USD 47.8 m) and no imports, 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.