Maize (corn) — Area harvested in Nigeria
Nigeria: Maize (corn) — Area harvested was 5.50 million ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Maize (corn) — Area harvested in Nigeria, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in ha.
Analysis
In 2024, maize (corn) — area harvested in Nigeria stood at 5.50 million ha.
The figure is down 3.5% on the previous year and down 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maize (corn) — area harvested in Nigeria peaked at 6.78 million ha in 2019 and was at its lowest, 425,000 ha, in 1979.
Nigeria ranks 9th of 222 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Maize (corn) — Area harvested in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.38 million ha | — |
| 1962 | 1.12 million ha | -18.5% |
| 1963 | 1.14 million ha | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 1.47 million ha | +29.0% |
| 1965 | 1.40 million ha | -4.6% |
| 1966 | 1.15 million ha | -18.4% |
| 1967 | 1.16 million ha | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 1.09 million ha | -5.8% |
| 1969 | 1.37 million ha | +25.2% |
| 1970 | 1.45 million ha | +5.7% |
| 1971 | 1.22 million ha | -15.9% |
| 1972 | 1.11 million ha | -8.5% |
| 1973 | 1.25 million ha | +11.7% |
| 1974 | 579,000 ha | -53.5% |
| 1975 | 971,000 ha | +67.7% |
| 1976 | 892,000 ha | -8.1% |
| 1977 | 610,000 ha | -31.6% |
| 1978 | 519,000 ha | -14.9% |
| 1979 | 425,000 ha | -18.1% |
| 1980 | 465,000 ha | +9.4% |
| 1981 | 438,000 ha | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 556,000 ha | +26.9% |
| 1983 | 1.06 million ha | +90.3% |
| 1984 | 1.05 million ha | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 1.56 million ha | +48.2% |
| 1986 | 2.80 million ha | +79.9% |
| 1987 | 3.41 million ha | +21.7% |
| 1988 | 3.21 million ha | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 3.59 million ha | +11.8% |
| 1990 | 5.10 million ha | +42.2% |
| 1991 | 5.14 million ha | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 5.22 million ha | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 5.31 million ha | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 5.43 million ha | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 5.47 million ha | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 4.27 million ha | -21.9% |
| 1997 | 4.20 million ha | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 3.88 million ha | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 3.42 million ha | -11.9% |
| 2000 | 3.16 million ha | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 3.28 million ha | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 3.28 million ha | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 3.47 million ha | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 3.48 million ha | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 3.59 million ha | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 3.90 million ha | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 3.94 million ha | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 3.85 million ha | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 3.35 million ha | -12.9% |
| 2010 | 4.15 million ha | +23.8% |
| 2011 | 5.46 million ha | +31.5% |
| 2012 | 5.75 million ha | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 5.76 million ha | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 6.35 million ha | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 5.55 million ha | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 5.90 million ha | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 6.39 million ha | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 6.54 million ha | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 6.78 million ha | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 6.05 million ha | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 6.21 million ha | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 5.80 million ha | -6.5% |
| 2023 | 5.70 million ha | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 5.50 million ha | -3.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 5.50 million ha is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 249,854 ha, 22.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 5.50 million ha is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 275,000 ha, 20.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maize (corn) — Area harvested in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +90.3% | 556,000 ha | 1.06 million ha |
| 1986 | +79.9% | 1.56 million ha | 2.80 million ha |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.25 million ha | 1.09 million ha | 1.47 million ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 902,400 ha | 425,000 ha | 1.45 million ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.81 million ha | 438,000 ha | 3.59 million ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.75 million ha | 3.42 million ha | 5.47 million ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.53 million ha | 3.16 million ha | 3.94 million ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.86 million ha | 4.15 million ha | 6.78 million ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.85 million ha | 5.50 million ha | 6.21 million ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.9222 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1938 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.5433 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2993 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maize (corn) — area harvested in Nigeria?
- Maize (corn) — area harvested in Nigeria was 5.50 million ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest maize (corn) — area harvested recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.78 million ha in 2019.
- What is the lowest maize (corn) — area harvested recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 425,000 ha in 1979.
- How does Nigeria rank for maize (corn) — area harvested?
- Nigeria ranks 9th out of 222 countries with data for 2024.
- Is maize (corn) — area harvested rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Maize (corn) — Area harvested. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This dataset provides annual statistics on crop and livestock production across countries and territories. For crops, data are provided on area harvested, production quantities and yields. For livestock, data are provided on animal stocks, numbers of producing and slaughtered animals, and the production of meat, milk, eggs and other livestock products. The dataset also includes information on production quantities for selected processed products, such as vegetable oils, sugar, fibres, beer, wine and major dairy products.