What is the highest land under sorghum production recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 28.50 million hectares in 2005.

What is the lowest land under sorghum production recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 12.01 million hectares in 1979.

How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa rank for land under sorghum production?

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ranks 4th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.

Is land under sorghum production rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa data come from?

The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Land under sorghum production (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

Name: Land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa: Land under sorghum production was 19.31 million hectares in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)

19.31 million hectares

Change on year

down 21.8%

Rank

4th

of 6 groups

All-time high

28.50 million hectares

in 2005

All-time low

12.01 million hectares

in 1979

Years of data

1961–2011

Land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1961–2011

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

In 2011, land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa stood at 19.31 million hectares.

The figure is down 21.8% on the previous year and down 16.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa peaked at 28.50 million hectares in 2005 and was at its lowest, 12.01 million hectares, in 1979.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.

Land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Land under sorghum production (hectares) in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1961 to 2011.
Year	hectares	Change
1961	12.57 million hectares	—
1962	12.72 million hectares	+1.2%
1963	13.01 million hectares	+2.3%
1964	13.12 million hectares	+0.9%
1965	13.59 million hectares	+3.5%
1966	12.64 million hectares	-7.0%
1967	14.12 million hectares	+11.7%
1968	12.76 million hectares	-9.6%
1969	16.84 million hectares	+31.9%
1970	14.82 million hectares	-12.0%
1971	14.45 million hectares	-2.5%
1972	12.33 million hectares	-14.6%
1973	13.74 million hectares	+11.4%
1974	13.77 million hectares	+0.2%
1975	12.51 million hectares	-9.1%
1976	14.85 million hectares	+18.7%
1977	13.54 million hectares	-8.8%
1978	13.54 million hectares	+0.0%
1979	12.01 million hectares	-11.3%
1980	13.65 million hectares	+13.7%
1981	13.45 million hectares	-1.4%
1982	13.06 million hectares	-2.9%
1983	13.34 million hectares	+2.1%
1984	15.05 million hectares	+12.8%
1985	18.03 million hectares	+19.8%
1986	18.31 million hectares	+1.5%
1987	16.72 million hectares	-8.7%
1988	19.09 million hectares	+14.2%
1989	17.66 million hectares	-7.5%
1990	16.09 million hectares	-8.9%
1991	19.72 million hectares	+22.5%
1992	21.20 million hectares	+7.5%
1993	20.84 million hectares	-1.7%
1994	22.33 million hectares	+7.1%
1995	21.29 million hectares	-4.6%
1996	23.10 million hectares	+8.5%
1997	23.51 million hectares	+1.7%
1998	23.07 million hectares	-1.8%
1999	21.11 million hectares	-8.5%
2000	20.94 million hectares	-0.8%
2001	23.25 million hectares	+11.0%
2002	22.35 million hectares	-3.9%
2003	24.98 million hectares	+11.8%
2004	21.82 million hectares	-12.6%
2005	28.50 million hectares	+30.6%
2006	26.01 million hectares	-8.8%
2007	26.76 million hectares	+2.9%
2008	27.44 million hectares	+2.6%
2009	24.50 million hectares	-10.7%
2010	24.69 million hectares	+0.8%
2011	19.31 million hectares	-21.8%

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	13.49 million hectares	12.57 million hectares	16.84 million hectares	9
1970s	13.56 million hectares	12.01 million hectares	14.85 million hectares	10
1980s	15.84 million hectares	13.06 million hectares	19.09 million hectares	10
1990s	21.23 million hectares	16.09 million hectares	23.51 million hectares	10
2000s	24.65 million hectares	20.94 million hectares	28.50 million hectares	10
2010s	22.00 million hectares	19.31 million hectares	24.69 million hectares	2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

1 Sudan 5.61 million hectares compare
2 Nigeria 4.89 million hectares compare
3 Niger 2.88 million hectares compare
4 Ethiopia 2.15 million hectares compare
5 Mali 1.69 million hectares compare
6 Burkina Faso 1.68 million hectares compare
7 Tanzania, United Republic of 811,164 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More agriculture & rural data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

Agriculture production index 117.68 1999-2001 = 100 (2010)
Land area 2.24 billion hectares (2011)
Agricultural land 964.77 million hectares (2011)
Wood fuel production quantity 564.02 million CUM, solid volume units (2011)
Wood charcoal production quantity 24.21 million tonnes (2011)
Arable and permanent cropland 216.33 million hectares (2011)
Permanent cropland 23.07 million hectares (2011)
Land area equipped for irrigation 5.68 million hectares (2011)
Cereal production index 100 1999-2001 = 100 (2010)
Cereal cropland 4.3% (2011)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?: Land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa was 19.31 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
What is the highest land under sorghum production recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 28.50 million hectares in 2005.
What is the lowest land under sorghum production recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 12.01 million hectares in 1979.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa rank for land under sorghum production?: Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ranks 4th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is land under sorghum production rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa data come from?: The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Land under sorghum production (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Land under sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/land-under-sorghum-production-hectares/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Land under sorghum production (hectares)
Unit: hectares
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 47 places, 2,346 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed: 04 September 2026

Land under sorghum production refers to harvested area, although some countries report only sown or cultivated area. Production data on relate to crop harvested for dry grain only. Crop harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.