Sugar cane production in Zambia
Zambia: Sugar cane production was 4.89 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.89 million tonnes
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
32nd
of 110 countries
All-time high
4.89 million tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Sugar cane 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
Zambia recorded 4.89 million tonnes for sugar cane production in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sugar cane production in Zambia peaked at 4.89 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1961.
That places Zambia 32nd out of 110 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.
Sugar cane 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 | 181,204 tonnes | — |
| 1969 | 256,701 tonnes | +41.7% |
| 1970 | 321,586 tonnes | +25.3% |
| 1971 | 330,737 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 397,363 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1973 | 487,693 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1974 | 570,243 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1975 | 768,153 tonnes | +34.7% |
| 1976 | 779,611 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 691,369 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1978 | 774,811 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1979 | 887,515 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1980 | 919,717 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 893,178 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 1.01 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1983 | 1.09 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1984 | 1.18 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1985 | 1.21 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 1.17 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 1.24 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 1.32 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 1.14 million tonnes | -14.0% |
| 1990 | 1.13 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 1.15 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 1.30 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1993 | 1.22 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 1.31 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1995 | 1.31 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.40 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 1.50 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 1.55 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 1.65 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 1.60 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 2.00 million tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2002 | 2.30 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 2003 | 2.30 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.35 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 2.30 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 2.45 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2007 | 2.43 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 2.05 million tonnes | -15.6% |
| 2009 | 3.20 million tonnes | +56.1% |
| 2010 | 3.70 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 2011 | 4.20 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 2012 | 4.30 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 4.60 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 4.60 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 4.16 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2016 | 4.08 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 4.39 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 4.63 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 4.68 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 4.48 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 4.25 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 4.55 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2023 | 4.75 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 4.89 million tonnes | +3.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 4.89 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.90 million tonnes, 2.6× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 4.89 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 934,836 tonnes, 5.2× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 48,656 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 256,701 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 600,908 tonnes | 321,586 tonnes | 887,515 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.12 million tonnes | 893,178 tonnes | 1.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.35 million tonnes | 1.13 million tonnes | 1.65 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.30 million tonnes | 1.60 million tonnes | 3.20 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.33 million tonnes | 3.70 million tonnes | 4.68 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.58 million tonnes | 4.25 million tonnes | 4.89 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 sugar cane production in Zambia?
- Sugar cane production in Zambia was 4.89 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 sugar cane production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.89 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest sugar cane production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Zambia rank for sugar cane production?
- Zambia ranks 32nd out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sugar cane production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. 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 Sugar cane 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
Sugar cane production is measured in tonnes.