Maize yield in Kenya
Kenya: Maize yield was 1,584 kg per hectare in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
1,584 kg per hectare
Change on year
down 8.2%
World rank
20th
of 49 countries
All-time high
2,071 kg per hectare
in 1982
All-time low
1,071 kg per hectare
in 1965
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Maize yield in Kenya, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in kg per hectare.
Analysis
The most recent figure for maize yield in Kenya is 1,584 kg per hectare, measured in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.2% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, maize yield in Kenya peaked at 2,071 kg per hectare in 1982 and was at its lowest, 1,071 kg per hectare, in 1965.
That places Kenya 20th out of 49 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Maize yield in Kenya, year by year
| Year | kg per hectare | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,253 kg per hectare | — |
| 1962 | 1,222 kg per hectare | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 1,250 kg per hectare | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 1,171 kg per hectare | -6.3% |
| 1965 | 1,071 kg per hectare | -8.5% |
| 1966 | 1,079 kg per hectare | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 1,200 kg per hectare | +11.2% |
| 1968 | 1,254 kg per hectare | +4.5% |
| 1969 | 1,274 kg per hectare | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 1,225 kg per hectare | -3.9% |
| 1971 | 1,217 kg per hectare | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 1,254 kg per hectare | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 1,290 kg per hectare | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 1,345 kg per hectare | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 1,414 kg per hectare | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 1,635 kg per hectare | +15.7% |
| 1977 | 1,626 kg per hectare | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 1,456 kg per hectare | -10.5% |
| 1979 | 1,300 kg per hectare | -10.7% |
| 1980 | 1,200 kg per hectare | -7.7% |
| 1981 | 1,579 kg per hectare | +31.5% |
| 1982 | 2,071 kg per hectare | +31.2% |
| 1983 | 1,769 kg per hectare | -14.6% |
| 1984 | 1,444 kg per hectare | -18.4% |
| 1985 | 1,722 kg per hectare | +19.3% |
| 1986 | 2,034 kg per hectare | +18.1% |
| 1987 | 1,717 kg per hectare | -15.6% |
| 1988 | 1,903 kg per hectare | +10.8% |
| 1989 | 1,853 kg per hectare | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 1,659 kg per hectare | -10.4% |
| 1991 | 1,832 kg per hectare | +10.4% |
| 1992 | 1,727 kg per hectare | -5.7% |
| 1993 | 1,555 kg per hectare | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 2,040 kg per hectare | +31.2% |
| 1995 | 1,876 kg per hectare | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 1,451 kg per hectare | -22.7% |
| 1997 | 1,471 kg per hectare | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 1,670 kg per hectare | +13.5% |
| 1999 | 1,482 kg per hectare | -11.3% |
| 2000 | 1,440 kg per hectare | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 1,701 kg per hectare | +18.1% |
| 2002 | 1,513 kg per hectare | -11.1% |
| 2003 | 1,622 kg per hectare | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 1,929 kg per hectare | +18.9% |
| 2005 | 1,640 kg per hectare | -15.0% |
| 2006 | 1,720 kg per hectare | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 1,813 kg per hectare | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 1,392 kg per hectare | -23.2% |
| 2009 | 1,294 kg per hectare | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 1,725 kg per hectare | +33.3% |
| 2011 | 1,584 kg per hectare | -8.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 1,584 kg per hectare is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,330 kg per hectare, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 1,584 kg per hectare is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,322 kg per hectare, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,197 kg per hectare | 1,071 kg per hectare | 1,274 kg per hectare | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,376 kg per hectare | 1,217 kg per hectare | 1,635 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,729 kg per hectare | 1,200 kg per hectare | 2,071 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,676 kg per hectare | 1,451 kg per hectare | 2,040 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,607 kg per hectare | 1,294 kg per hectare | 1,929 kg per hectare | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,655 kg per hectare | 1,584 kg per hectare | 1,725 kg per hectare | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 17 Central African Republic 1,680 kg per hectare compare
- 18 Gabon 1,673 kg per hectare compare
- 19 Ghana 1,646 kg per hectare compare
- 21 Burkina Faso 1,536 kg per hectare compare
- 22 Nigeria 1,528 kg per hectare compare
- 23 Madagascar 1,521 kg per hectare compare
More agriculture & rural data for Kenya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 16.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2316 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 547.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6779 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is maize yield in Kenya?
- Maize yield in Kenya was 1,584 kg per hectare in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest maize yield recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 2,071 kg per hectare in 1982.
- What is the lowest maize yield recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,071 kg per hectare in 1965.
- How does Kenya rank for maize yield?
- Kenya ranks 20th out of 49 countries with data for 2011.
- Is maize yield rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Maize yield (kg per hectare). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Maize yield, measured as kilograms per hectare of harvested land. Production data on relate to crops harvested for dry grain only. Crop harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.