Potato production in Zambia
Zambia: Potato production was 34,153 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
34,153 tonnes
Change on year
down 47.5%
World rank
121st
of 160 countries
All-time high
79,980 tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
1,451 tonnes
in 1968
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Potato 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 potato production in Zambia is 34,153 tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 47.5% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potato production in Zambia peaked at 79,980 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1,451 tonnes, in 1968.
Zambia ranks 121st of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Potato production in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2,702 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 3,504 tonnes | +29.7% |
| 1963 | 3,211 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1964 | 2,994 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1965 | 1,873 tonnes | -37.4% |
| 1966 | 2,000 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1967 | 2,080 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 1,451 tonnes | -30.2% |
| 1969 | 2,800 tonnes | +93.0% |
| 1970 | 2,540 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1971 | 2,600 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 2,600 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3,000 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1974 | 3,500 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1975 | 4,000 tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1976 | 4,500 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1977 | 3,000 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 1978 | 3,200 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 4,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1980 | 4,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4,500 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1982 | 4,800 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1983 | 5,000 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 5,200 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 6,000 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1986 | 6,500 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1987 | 7,000 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1988 | 7,500 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1989 | 8,000 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 9,000 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1991 | 10,000 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1992 | 8,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1993 | 10,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1994 | 9,000 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1995 | 8,000 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1996 | 10,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1997 | 9,000 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1998 | 8,000 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1999 | 10,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2000 | 10,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 12,000 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 2002 | 13,000 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 14,000 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2004 | 14,141 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 14,035 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 14,000 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 14,500 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 10,196 tonnes | -29.7% |
| 2009 | 21,285 tonnes | +108.8% |
| 2010 | 22,939 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 27,563 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 2012 | 30,000 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 22,038 tonnes | -26.5% |
| 2014 | 33,833 tonnes | +53.5% |
| 2015 | 45,902 tonnes | +35.7% |
| 2016 | 24,428 tonnes | -46.8% |
| 2017 | 31,750 tonnes | +30.0% |
| 2018 | 13,546 tonnes | -57.3% |
| 2019 | 38,786 tonnes | +186.3% |
| 2020 | 79,980 tonnes | +106.2% |
| 2021 | 62,358 tonnes | -22.0% |
| 2022 | 52,372 tonnes | -16.0% |
| 2023 | 65,082 tonnes | +24.3% |
| 2024 | 34,153 tonnes | -47.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 34,153 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 422,111 tonnes, 8% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 34,153 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 190,510 tonnes, 18% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Potato 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +186.3% | 13,546 tonnes | 38,786 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,513 tonnes | 1,451 tonnes | 3,504 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 3,294 tonnes | 2,540 tonnes | 4,500 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,850 tonnes | 4,000 tonnes | 8,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 9,100 tonnes | 8,000 tonnes | 10,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,716 tonnes | 10,000 tonnes | 21,285 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,078 tonnes | 13,546 tonnes | 45,902 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 58,789 tonnes | 34,153 tonnes | 79,980 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 potato production in Zambia?
- Potato production in Zambia was 34,153 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 potato production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 79,980 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest potato production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,451 tonnes in 1968.
- How does Zambia rank for potato production?
- Zambia ranks 121st out of 160 countries with data for 2024.
- Is potato production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. 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 Potato 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
Potato production is measured in tonnes.