Wheat production in Zambia
Zambia: Wheat production was 198,886 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Wheat 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 wheat production in Zambia is 198,886 tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 28.3% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wheat production in Zambia peaked at 277,492 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 81 tonnes, in 1966.
That places Zambia 74th out of 126 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.
Wheat production in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 608 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 934 tonnes | +53.6% |
| 1963 | 717 tonnes | -23.2% |
| 1964 | 214 tonnes | -70.2% |
| 1965 | 214 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 81 tonnes | -62.1% |
| 1967 | 199 tonnes | +145.7% |
| 1968 | 200 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 220 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1970 | 101 tonnes | -54.1% |
| 1971 | 100 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 99 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 100 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 1,284 tonnes | +1184.0% |
| 1975 | 3,487 tonnes | +171.6% |
| 1976 | 3,948 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1977 | 5,324 tonnes | +34.9% |
| 1978 | 5,341 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 6,528 tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1980 | 9,765 tonnes | +49.6% |
| 1981 | 11,835 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1982 | 14,130 tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1983 | 10,936 tonnes | -22.6% |
| 1984 | 13,221 tonnes | +20.9% |
| 1985 | 17,156 tonnes | +29.8% |
| 1986 | 17,998 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 27,668 tonnes | +53.7% |
| 1988 | 37,123 tonnes | +34.2% |
| 1989 | 46,610 tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1990 | 55,011 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1991 | 65,236 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1992 | 54,490 tonnes | -16.5% |
| 1993 | 69,286 tonnes | +27.2% |
| 1994 | 60,944 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1995 | 38,019 tonnes | -37.6% |
| 1996 | 57,595 tonnes | +51.5% |
| 1997 | 70,810 tonnes | +22.9% |
| 1998 | 63,925 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1999 | 69,226 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2000 | 75,000 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 80,000 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 75,000 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 135,000 tonnes | +80.0% |
| 2004 | 82,858 tonnes | -38.6% |
| 2005 | 136,833 tonnes | +65.1% |
| 2006 | 93,958 tonnes | -31.3% |
| 2007 | 115,843 tonnes | +23.3% |
| 2008 | 113,242 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 195,456 tonnes | +72.6% |
| 2010 | 172,256 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2011 | 237,332 tonnes | +37.8% |
| 2012 | 253,522 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 273,584 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 201,504 tonnes | -26.3% |
| 2015 | 214,230 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 159,533 tonnes | -25.5% |
| 2017 | 193,713 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 2018 | 114,463 tonnes | -40.9% |
| 2019 | 151,850 tonnes | +32.7% |
| 2020 | 191,620 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 2021 | 205,882 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2022 | 234,925 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 2023 | 277,492 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 2024 | 198,886 tonnes | -28.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 198,886 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 158,943 tonnes, 1.3× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 198,886 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16,417 tonnes, 12.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wheat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +1184.0% | 100 tonnes | 1,284 tonnes |
| 1975 | +171.6% | 1,284 tonnes | 3,487 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 376.33 tonnes | 81 tonnes | 934 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 2,631 tonnes | 99 tonnes | 6,528 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 20,644 tonnes | 9,765 tonnes | 46,610 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 60,454 tonnes | 38,019 tonnes | 70,810 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 110,319 tonnes | 75,000 tonnes | 195,456 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 197,199 tonnes | 114,463 tonnes | 273,584 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 221,761 tonnes | 191,620 tonnes | 277,492 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 wheat production in Zambia?
- Wheat production in Zambia was 198,886 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 wheat production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 277,492 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest wheat production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 81 tonnes in 1966.
- How does Zambia rank for wheat production?
- Zambia ranks 74th out of 126 countries with data for 2024.
- Is wheat production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. 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 Wheat production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Wheat production is measured in tonnes.