Cassava production in Zambia
Zambia: Cassava production was 3.13 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.13 million tonnes
Change on year
down 29.7%
World rank
19th
of 101 countries
All-time high
4.45 million tonnes
in 2023
All-time low
139,000 tonnes
in 1965
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Cassava production in Zambia, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cassava production in Zambia is 3.13 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 29.7% on the previous year and up 240.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cassava production in Zambia peaked at 4.45 million tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 139,000 tonnes, in 1965.
That places Zambia 19th out of 101 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cassava production in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 150,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 150,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 145,000 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1964 | 141,000 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 139,000 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 180,000 tonnes | +29.5% |
| 1967 | 185,000 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 185,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 185,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 190,000 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 195,000 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 195,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 195,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 195,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 215,000 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1976 | 240,000 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1977 | 260,000 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1978 | 280,000 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1979 | 295,000 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 315,000 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 330,000 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 335,000 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 340,000 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 350,000 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 360,000 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 394,000 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1987 | 414,000 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 436,000 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 600,000 tonnes | +37.6% |
| 1990 | 640,000 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 682,000 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 702,416 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 744,000 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 736,856 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 743,956 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 740,040 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 702,000 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 816,963 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1999 | 970,823 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 2000 | 815,248 tonnes | -16.0% |
| 2001 | 950,000 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 950,781 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 957,000 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 911,673 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 1.06 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 2006 | 1.06 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 1.06 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.19 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 2009 | 1.16 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 1.15 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 1.13 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 1.11 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 1.11 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 919,497 tonnes | -17.5% |
| 2015 | 952,770 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 2.22 million tonnes | +133.3% |
| 2017 | 3.70 million tonnes | +66.2% |
| 2018 | 4.10 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 2019 | 4.04 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 3.70 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 3.80 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 3.50 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 4.45 million tonnes | +27.2% |
| 2024 | 3.13 million tonnes | -29.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.13 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.27 million tonnes, 2.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.13 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.30 million tonnes, 2.4× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cassava production in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +133.3% | 952,770 tonnes | 2.22 million tonnes |
| 2017 | +66.2% | 2.22 million tonnes | 3.70 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 162,222 tonnes | 139,000 tonnes | 185,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 226,000 tonnes | 190,000 tonnes | 295,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 387,400 tonnes | 315,000 tonnes | 600,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 747,905 tonnes | 640,000 tonnes | 970,823 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.01 million tonnes | 815,248 tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.04 million tonnes | 919,497 tonnes | 4.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.72 million tonnes | 3.13 million tonnes | 4.45 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cassava production in Zambia?
- Cassava production in Zambia was 3.13 million tonnes in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cassava production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.45 million tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest cassava production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 139,000 tonnes in 1965.
- How does Zambia rank for cassava production?
- Zambia ranks 19th out of 101 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cassava production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 240.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cassava production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cassava production is measured in tonnes.