Beef production in Zambia
Zambia: Beef production was 221,927 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
221,927 tonnes
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
51st
of 198 countries
All-time high
232,219 tonnes
in 2023
All-time low
24,643 tonnes
in 1964
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Beef 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 beef production in Zambia is 221,927 tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, beef production in Zambia peaked at 232,219 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 24,643 tonnes, in 1964.
Zambia ranks 51st of 198 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.
Beef production in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 25,080 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 24,890 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 24,700 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1964 | 24,643 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 27,018 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1966 | 27,685 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 26,090 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1968 | 27,524 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 25,228 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1970 | 27,540 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 26,107 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1972 | 25,777 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 26,556 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 24,676 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1975 | 25,840 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 27,506 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1977 | 27,712 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 27,358 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 27,570 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 28,055 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 30,784 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 32,608 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 29,920 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1984 | 28,357 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1985 | 31,616 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1986 | 32,256 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 33,296 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 33,760 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 34,240 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 55,200 tonnes | +61.2% |
| 1991 | 57,600 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 54,000 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 51,925 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 50,400 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 43,500 tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1996 | 41,870 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 50,375 tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1998 | 52,500 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 57,350 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2000 | 52,800 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2001 | 54,400 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 59,200 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 59,200 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 56,000 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 59,200 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 57,600 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 58,400 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 78,400 tonnes | +34.2% |
| 2009 | 121,600 tonnes | +55.1% |
| 2010 | 153,600 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 2011 | 153,970 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 160,899 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 197,827 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 2014 | 208,000 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 161,000 tonnes | -22.6% |
| 2016 | 159,400 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 209,300 tonnes | +31.3% |
| 2018 | 181,981 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 2019 | 186,378 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 177,794 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 187,660 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 180,479 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 232,219 tonnes | +28.7% |
| 2024 | 221,927 tonnes | -4.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 221,927 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 67,309 tonnes, 3.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 221,927 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39,552 tonnes, 5.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Beef 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +61.2% | 34,240 tonnes | 55,200 tonnes |
| 2009 | +55.1% | 78,400 tonnes | 121,600 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25,873 tonnes | 24,643 tonnes | 27,685 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 26,664 tonnes | 24,676 tonnes | 27,712 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 31,489 tonnes | 28,055 tonnes | 34,240 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 51,472 tonnes | 41,870 tonnes | 57,600 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 65,680 tonnes | 52,800 tonnes | 121,600 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 177,236 tonnes | 153,600 tonnes | 209,300 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 200,016 tonnes | 177,794 tonnes | 232,219 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More agriculture & rural data for Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5408 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is beef production in Zambia?
- Beef production in Zambia was 221,927 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 beef production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 232,219 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest beef production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,643 tonnes in 1964.
- How does Zambia rank for beef production?
- Zambia ranks 51st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is beef production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. 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 Beef production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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