Maize production in Zambia
Zambia: Maize production was 2.50 million metric tons in 2011. ▲ Rising
Maize production in Zambia, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in metric tons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maize production in Zambia is 2.50 million metric tons, measured in 2011.
That represents a change of down 10.7% on the previous year and up 211.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maize production in Zambia peaked at 2.80 million metric tons in 2010 and was at its lowest, 483,492 metric tons, in 1992.
Zambia ranks 9th of 49 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Maize production in Zambia, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 660,000 metric tons | — |
| 1962 | 640,000 metric tons | -3.0% |
| 1963 | 570,000 metric tons | -10.9% |
| 1964 | 660,000 metric tons | +15.8% |
| 1965 | 700,000 metric tons | +6.1% |
| 1966 | 770,000 metric tons | +10.0% |
| 1967 | 770,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 700,000 metric tons | -9.1% |
| 1969 | 700,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 570,000 metric tons | -18.6% |
| 1971 | 927,938 metric tons | +62.8% |
| 1972 | 1.14 million metric tons | +23.2% |
| 1973 | 873,632 metric tons | -23.6% |
| 1974 | 1.15 million metric tons | +31.2% |
| 1975 | 1.48 million metric tons | +29.4% |
| 1976 | 1.64 million metric tons | +10.7% |
| 1977 | 1.61 million metric tons | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 1.38 million metric tons | -14.1% |
| 1979 | 877,759 metric tons | -36.4% |
| 1980 | 937,266 metric tons | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 1.01 million metric tons | +7.5% |
| 1982 | 750,240 metric tons | -25.5% |
| 1983 | 935,280 metric tons | +24.7% |
| 1984 | 871,740 metric tons | -6.8% |
| 1985 | 1.12 million metric tons | +28.7% |
| 1986 | 1.23 million metric tons | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 1.06 million metric tons | -13.6% |
| 1988 | 1.94 million metric tons | +82.7% |
| 1989 | 1.84 million metric tons | -5.1% |
| 1990 | 1.09 million metric tons | -40.8% |
| 1991 | 1.10 million metric tons | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 483,492 metric tons | -55.9% |
| 1993 | 1.60 million metric tons | +230.5% |
| 1994 | 1.02 million metric tons | -36.1% |
| 1995 | 737,835 metric tons | -27.7% |
| 1996 | 1.41 million metric tons | +91.0% |
| 1997 | 960,188 metric tons | -31.9% |
| 1998 | 638,134 metric tons | -33.5% |
| 1999 | 822,056 metric tons | +28.8% |
| 2000 | 1.04 million metric tons | +26.5% |
| 2001 | 802,000 metric tons | -22.9% |
| 2002 | 606,172 metric tons | -24.4% |
| 2003 | 1.16 million metric tons | +91.0% |
| 2004 | 1.21 million metric tons | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 866,187 metric tons | -28.7% |
| 2006 | 1.42 million metric tons | +64.4% |
| 2007 | 1.37 million metric tons | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 1.21 million metric tons | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 1.89 million metric tons | +55.7% |
| 2010 | 2.80 million metric tons | +48.1% |
| 2011 | 2.50 million metric tons | -10.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2.50 million metric tons is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 621,790 metric tons, 4.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2.50 million metric tons is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 326,794 metric tons, 7.6× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Maize 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +230.5% | 483,492 metric tons | 1.60 million metric tons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 685,556 metric tons | 570,000 metric tons | 770,000 metric tons | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.17 million metric tons | 570,000 metric tons | 1.64 million metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.17 million metric tons | 750,240 metric tons | 1.94 million metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 985,830 metric tons | 483,492 metric tons | 1.60 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.16 million metric tons | 606,172 metric tons | 1.89 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.65 million metric tons | 2.50 million metric tons | 2.80 million metric tons | 2 |
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 maize production in Zambia?
- Maize production in Zambia was 2.50 million metric tons in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest maize production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.80 million metric tons in 2010.
- What is the lowest maize production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 483,492 metric tons in 1992.
- How does Zambia rank for maize production?
- Zambia ranks 9th out of 49 countries with data for 2011.
- Is maize production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 211.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Maize production (metric tons). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Production data on maize 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.