Rice production in Zambia
Zambia: Rice production was 24,566 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
24,566 tonnes
Change on year
down 60.8%
World rank
92nd
of 143 countries
All-time high
65,876 tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Rice 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 rice production in Zambia is 24,566 tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 60.8% on the previous year and down 50.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rice production in Zambia peaked at 65,876 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1961.
That places Zambia 92nd out of 143 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rice production in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1963 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1964 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1965 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1966 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1967 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1968 | 191 tonnes | — |
| 1969 | 417 tonnes | +118.3% |
| 1970 | 454 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 470 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 530 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1973 | 506 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1974 | 761 tonnes | +50.4% |
| 1975 | 1,742 tonnes | +128.9% |
| 1976 | 2,413 tonnes | +38.5% |
| 1977 | 1,860 tonnes | -22.9% |
| 1978 | 2,925 tonnes | +57.3% |
| 1979 | 1,852 tonnes | -36.7% |
| 1980 | 2,213 tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1981 | 2,673 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1982 | 5,272 tonnes | +97.2% |
| 1983 | 9,631 tonnes | +82.7% |
| 1984 | 9,271 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1985 | 11,233 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1986 | 11,207 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 8,242 tonnes | -26.5% |
| 1988 | 9,701 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1989 | 11,734 tonnes | +21.0% |
| 1990 | 9,213 tonnes | -21.5% |
| 1991 | 14,602 tonnes | +58.5% |
| 1992 | 8,283 tonnes | -43.3% |
| 1993 | 13,993 tonnes | +68.9% |
| 1994 | 6,358 tonnes | -54.6% |
| 1995 | 12,110 tonnes | +90.5% |
| 1996 | 13,296 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1997 | 12,473 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 6,399 tonnes | -48.7% |
| 1999 | 14,700 tonnes | +129.7% |
| 2000 | 13,936 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 11,645 tonnes | -16.4% |
| 2002 | 11,642 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 10,744 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 2004 | 17,189 tonnes | +60.0% |
| 2005 | 13,337 tonnes | -22.4% |
| 2006 | 13,964 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 18,317 tonnes | +31.2% |
| 2008 | 24,023 tonnes | +31.2% |
| 2009 | 41,929 tonnes | +74.5% |
| 2010 | 51,656 tonnes | +23.2% |
| 2011 | 49,410 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 45,321 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 44,747 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 49,640 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2015 | 25,514 tonnes | -48.6% |
| 2016 | 26,675 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 38,423 tonnes | +44.0% |
| 2018 | 43,063 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2019 | 29,584 tonnes | -31.3% |
| 2020 | 34,630 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 2021 | 65,876 tonnes | +90.2% |
| 2022 | 62,280 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 62,680 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 24,566 tonnes | -60.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 24,566 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 407,632 tonnes, 6% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 24,566 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 212,050 tonnes, 12% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 67.56 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 417 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,351 tonnes | 454 tonnes | 2,925 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 8,118 tonnes | 2,213 tonnes | 11,734 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 11,143 tonnes | 6,358 tonnes | 14,700 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 17,673 tonnes | 10,744 tonnes | 41,929 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 40,403 tonnes | 25,514 tonnes | 51,656 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,006 tonnes | 24,566 tonnes | 65,876 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 rice production in Zambia?
- Rice production in Zambia was 24,566 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 rice production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 65,876 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest rice production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Zambia rank for rice production?
- Zambia ranks 92nd out of 143 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rice production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.5%. 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 Rice 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
Rice production is measured in tonnes.