Yams production in Papua New Guinea
In 2024 Papua New Guinea produced 385,041 t of yams, the 9th largest in the world (0.42% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 8.4%. The record was 389,273 t in 2019. Area harvested: 21,947 ha, yield 17.5 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 385,041 t
- World rank
- 9 of 59
- 10-year change
- +8.4%
- Record
- 389,273 t
- 2019
Yams in Papua New Guinea, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Papua New Guinea compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.42%
- 0.55% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 17.5
- world 8.4 (+108%)
- kg per person
- 36.4
- world 11.3
- 10-year change
- +8.4%
- world +42%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Cameroon | 541,648 | 0.59% |
| 8 | Colombia | 408,944 | 0.44% |
| 9 | Papua New Guinea | 385,041 | 0.42% |
| 10 | Guinea | 326,092 | 0.35% |
| 11 | Brazil | 256,678 | 0.28% |
Map of world production of yams
Share of the world total; Papua New Guinea is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 385,041 | +0.1% | 21,947 | 17.54 |
| 2023 | 384,480 | −0.3% | 22,003 | 17.47 |
| 2022 | 385,678 | +0.2% | 21,969 | 17.56 |
| 2021 | 384,965 | +0.6% | 21,869 | 17.60 |
| 2020 | 382,797 | −1.7% | 22,172 | 17.26 |
| 2019 | 389,273 | +1.7% | 21,865 | 17.80 |
| 2018 | 382,824 | +1.7% | 21,571 | 17.75 |
| 2017 | 376,293 | +1.8% | 21,291 | 17.67 |
| 2016 | 369,642 | +1.9% | 21,037 | 17.57 |
| 2015 | 362,684 | +2.1% | 20,730 | 17.50 |
| 2014 | 355,213 | +1.5% | 20,252 | 17.54 |
| 2013 | 350,000 | +1.4% | 20,000 | 17.50 |
| 2012 | 345,000 | +1.5% | 20,000 | 17.25 |
| 2011 | 340,000 | +4.6% | 19,500 | 17.44 |
| 2010 | 325,000 | +0.9% | 19,000 | 17.11 |
| 2009 | 322,000 | +2.5% | 19,500 | 16.51 |
| 2008 | 314,000 | +1.3% | 19,000 | 16.53 |
| 2007 | 310,000 | +4.4% | 18,500 | 16.76 |
| 2006 | 297,000 | +2.4% | 18,000 | 16.50 |
| 2005 | 290,000 | +3.6% | 17,500 | 16.57 |
| 2004 | 280,000 | −3.4% | 16,624 | 16.84 |
| 2003 | 290,000 | +3.6% | 17,000 | 17.06 |
| 2002 | 280,000 | +7.7% | 16,000 | 17.50 |
| 2001 | 260,000 | +6.1% | 15,000 | 17.33 |
| 2000 | 245,000 | +6.5% | 14,000 | 17.50 |
| 1999 | 230,000 | +0.9% | 13,132 | 17.51 |
| 1998 | 228,000 | +3.6% | 13,000 | 17.54 |
| 1997 | 220,029 | +4.8% | 12,566 | 17.51 |
| 1996 | 210,000 | −1.4% | 12,000 | 17.50 |
| 1995 | 213,012 | −0.9% | 12,173 | 17.50 |
| 1994 | 215,000 | −2.3% | 12,300 | 17.48 |
| 1993 | 220,000 | +0.2% | 12,500 | 17.60 |
| 1992 | 219,500 | +2.1% | 12,300 | 17.85 |
| 1991 | 215,000 | +2.4% | 12,200 | 17.62 |
| 1990 | 210,000 | 0.0% | 12,100 | 17.36 |
| 1989 | 210,000 | 0.0% | 12,000 | 17.50 |
| 1988 | 210,000 | +2.4% | 12,000 | 17.50 |
| 1987 | 205,000 | +1.5% | 11,800 | 17.37 |
| 1986 | 202,000 | +1.0% | 11,600 | 17.41 |
| 1985 | 200,000 | +2.0% | 11,400 | 17.54 |
| 1984 | 196,000 | +1.0% | 11,300 | 17.35 |
| 1983 | 194,000 | +2.1% | 11,200 | 17.32 |
| 1982 | 190,000 | +2.7% | 11,100 | 17.12 |
| 1981 | 185,000 | +1.6% | 11,000 | 16.82 |
| 1980 | 182,000 | +2.2% | 10,900 | 16.70 |
| 1979 | 178,000 | +2.3% | 10,700 | 16.64 |
| 1978 | 174,000 | +2.4% | 10,500 | 16.57 |
| 1977 | 170,000 | +2.4% | 10,300 | 16.50 |
| 1976 | 166,000 | +1.8% | 10,100 | 16.44 |
| 1975 | 163,000 | +1.9% | 9,900 | 16.46 |
| 1974 | 160,000 | 0.0% | 9,800 | 16.33 |
| 1973 | 160,000 | +1.3% | 9,700 | 16.49 |
| 1972 | 158,000 | +1.9% | 9,600 | 16.46 |
| 1971 | 155,000 | +2.0% | 9,500 | 16.32 |
| 1970 | 152,000 | +1.3% | 9,400 | 16.17 |
| 1969 | 150,000 | +3.4% | 9,300 | 16.13 |
| 1968 | 145,000 | +2.1% | 9,000 | 16.11 |
| 1967 | 142,000 | +2.9% | 8,700 | 16.32 |
| 1966 | 138,000 | +3.8% | 8,500 | 16.24 |
| 1965 | 133,000 | +2.3% | 8,200 | 16.22 |
| 1964 | 130,000 | +2.4% | 8,000 | 16.25 |
| 1963 | 127,000 | +1.6% | 7,800 | 16.28 |
| 1962 | 125,000 | +4.2% | 7,500 | 16.67 |
| 1961 | 120,000 | — | 7,240 | 16.57 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of yams in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea produced 385,041 t in 2024, 0.42% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Papua New Guinea rank in the world for production of yams?
Papua New Guinea ranked 9th of 59 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Nigeria with 70.7% of the world total.
How has the production of yams in Papua New Guinea changed?
It rose by 8.4% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +42% for the world. The record was 389,273 t in 2019.
What is the yield of yams in Papua New Guinea?
17.5 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (385,041 t from 21,947 ha), against a world average of 8.4 t/ha.
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 Papua New Guinea is estimated 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.