Cereal production in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Cereal production was 31.76 million metric tons in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
31.76 million metric tons
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
20th
of 181 countries
All-time high
32.49 million metric tons
in 2020
All-time low
3.81 million metric tons
in 1975
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Cereal production in Ethiopia, 1961–2024
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in metric tons.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 31.76 million metric tons for cereal production in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 31.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cereal production in Ethiopia peaked at 32.49 million metric tons in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.81 million metric tons, in 1975.
That places Ethiopia 20th out of 181 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cereal production in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.20 million metric tons | — |
| 1962 | 4.28 million metric tons | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 4.30 million metric tons | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 4.45 million metric tons | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 4.56 million metric tons | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 4.66 million metric tons | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 4.73 million metric tons | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 4.65 million metric tons | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 4.93 million metric tons | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 5.07 million metric tons | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 5.23 million metric tons | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 5.17 million metric tons | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 4.37 million metric tons | -15.4% |
| 1974 | 4.35 million metric tons | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 3.81 million metric tons | -12.3% |
| 1976 | 4.71 million metric tons | +23.6% |
| 1977 | 4.38 million metric tons | -7.0% |
| 1978 | 4.00 million metric tons | -8.7% |
| 1979 | 5.20 million metric tons | +30.2% |
| 1980 | 6.40 million metric tons | +23.0% |
| 1981 | 5.61 million metric tons | -12.4% |
| 1982 | 5.39 million metric tons | -3.9% |
| 1983 | 6.72 million metric tons | +24.6% |
| 1984 | 5.52 million metric tons | -17.9% |
| 1985 | 4.24 million metric tons | -23.1% |
| 1986 | 4.82 million metric tons | +13.7% |
| 1987 | 5.71 million metric tons | +18.4% |
| 1988 | 6.14 million metric tons | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 5.73 million metric tons | -6.6% |
| 1990 | 6.14 million metric tons | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 5.81 million metric tons | -5.3% |
| 1992 | 5.03 million metric tons | -13.4% |
| 1993 | 5.29 million metric tons | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 5.24 million metric tons | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 6.74 million metric tons | +28.5% |
| 1996 | 9.38 million metric tons | +39.2% |
| 1997 | 9.47 million metric tons | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 7.20 million metric tons | -24.0% |
| 1999 | 8.38 million metric tons | +16.4% |
| 2000 | 8.00 million metric tons | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 9.57 million metric tons | +19.6% |
| 2002 | 8.98 million metric tons | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 9.52 million metric tons | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 10.13 million metric tons | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 12.74 million metric tons | +25.8% |
| 2006 | 12.66 million metric tons | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 13.65 million metric tons | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 14.43 million metric tons | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 16.86 million metric tons | +16.8% |
| 2010 | 19.00 million metric tons | +12.7% |
| 2011 | 19.22 million metric tons | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 20.83 million metric tons | +8.4% |
| 2013 | 22.27 million metric tons | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 24.16 million metric tons | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 25.86 million metric tons | +7.0% |
| 2016 | 26.60 million metric tons | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 29.30 million metric tons | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 30.34 million metric tons | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 32.27 million metric tons | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 32.49 million metric tons | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 32.46 million metric tons | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 31.18 million metric tons | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 31.50 million metric tons | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 31.76 million metric tons | +0.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 31.76 million metric tons is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.71 million metric tons, 11.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 31.76 million metric tons is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.10 million metric tons, 15.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.53 million metric tons | 4.20 million metric tons | 4.93 million metric tons | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.63 million metric tons | 3.81 million metric tons | 5.23 million metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.63 million metric tons | 4.24 million metric tons | 6.72 million metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.87 million metric tons | 5.03 million metric tons | 9.47 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.65 million metric tons | 8.00 million metric tons | 16.86 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.99 million metric tons | 19.00 million metric tons | 32.27 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.88 million metric tons | 31.18 million metric tons | 32.49 million metric tons | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More agriculture & rural data for Ethiopia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -20.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3282 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 306.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7589 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 32.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 32.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.7% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cereal production in Ethiopia?
- Cereal production in Ethiopia was 31.76 million metric tons in 2024, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest cereal production recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.49 million metric tons in 2020.
- What is the lowest cereal production recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.81 million metric tons in 1975.
- How does Ethiopia rank for cereal production?
- Ethiopia ranks 20th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cereal production rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Cereal production (metric tons). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Production data on cereals relate to crops harvested for dry grain only. Cereal crops harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.