Corn production in Zambia
Zambia: Corn production was 1.51 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.51 million tonnes
Change on year
down 53.7%
World rank
54th
of 176 countries
All-time high
3.62 million tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
483,492 tonnes
in 1992
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Corn 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
In 2024, corn production in Zambia stood at 1.51 million tonnes.
The figure is down 53.7% on the previous year and down 54.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, corn production in Zambia peaked at 3.62 million tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 483,492 tonnes, in 1992.
Zambia ranks 54th of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Corn production in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 660,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 640,000 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1963 | 570,000 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 1964 | 660,000 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1965 | 700,000 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1966 | 770,000 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1967 | 770,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 700,000 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1969 | 700,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 570,000 tonnes | -18.6% |
| 1971 | 927,938 tonnes | +62.8% |
| 1972 | 1.14 million tonnes | +23.2% |
| 1973 | 873,632 tonnes | -23.6% |
| 1974 | 1.15 million tonnes | +31.2% |
| 1975 | 1.48 million tonnes | +29.4% |
| 1976 | 1.64 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1977 | 1.61 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 1.38 million tonnes | -14.1% |
| 1979 | 877,759 tonnes | -36.4% |
| 1980 | 937,266 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 1.01 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1982 | 750,240 tonnes | -25.5% |
| 1983 | 935,280 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1984 | 871,740 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1985 | 1.12 million tonnes | +28.7% |
| 1986 | 1.23 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 1.06 million tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1988 | 1.94 million tonnes | +82.7% |
| 1989 | 1.84 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 1.09 million tonnes | -40.8% |
| 1991 | 1.10 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 483,492 tonnes | -55.9% |
| 1993 | 1.60 million tonnes | +230.5% |
| 1994 | 1.02 million tonnes | -36.1% |
| 1995 | 737,835 tonnes | -27.7% |
| 1996 | 1.41 million tonnes | +91.0% |
| 1997 | 960,188 tonnes | -31.9% |
| 1998 | 638,134 tonnes | -33.5% |
| 1999 | 822,056 tonnes | +28.8% |
| 2000 | 1.04 million tonnes | +26.5% |
| 2001 | 802,000 tonnes | -22.9% |
| 2002 | 606,172 tonnes | -24.4% |
| 2003 | 1.16 million tonnes | +91.0% |
| 2004 | 1.21 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 866,187 tonnes | -28.7% |
| 2006 | 1.42 million tonnes | +64.4% |
| 2007 | 1.37 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 1.21 million tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 1.89 million tonnes | +55.7% |
| 2010 | 2.80 million tonnes | +48.1% |
| 2011 | 3.02 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 2.85 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 2.53 million tonnes | -11.2% |
| 2014 | 3.35 million tonnes | +32.3% |
| 2015 | 2.62 million tonnes | -21.9% |
| 2016 | 2.87 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2017 | 3.61 million tonnes | +25.5% |
| 2018 | 2.39 million tonnes | -33.6% |
| 2019 | 2.00 million tonnes | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 3.39 million tonnes | +69.0% |
| 2021 | 3.62 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 2.71 million tonnes | -25.2% |
| 2023 | 3.26 million tonnes | +20.5% |
| 2024 | 1.51 million tonnes | -53.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.51 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 805,250 tonnes, 1.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.51 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 590,000 tonnes, 2.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Corn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +230.5% | 483,492 tonnes | 1.60 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 685,556 tonnes | 570,000 tonnes | 770,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.17 million tonnes | 570,000 tonnes | 1.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.17 million tonnes | 750,240 tonnes | 1.94 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 985,828 tonnes | 483,492 tonnes | 1.60 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.16 million tonnes | 606,172 tonnes | 1.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.80 million tonnes | 2.00 million tonnes | 3.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.90 million tonnes | 1.51 million tonnes | 3.62 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 corn production in Zambia?
- Corn production in Zambia was 1.51 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 corn production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.62 million tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest corn production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 483,492 tonnes in 1992.
- How does Zambia rank for corn production?
- Zambia ranks 54th out of 176 countries with data for 2024.
- Is corn production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.9%. 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 Corn 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
Corn (maize) production is measured in tonnes.