Sorghum production in Malawi
Malawi: Sorghum production was 73,330 metric tons in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Sorghum production in Malawi, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in metric tons.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 73,330 metric tons for sorghum production in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.0% on the previous year and up 99.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sorghum production in Malawi peaked at 120,000 metric tons in 1977 and was at its lowest, 3,957 metric tons, in 1992.
That places Malawi 24th out of 41 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sorghum production in Malawi, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 40,000 metric tons | — |
| 1962 | 45,000 metric tons | +12.5% |
| 1963 | 50,000 metric tons | +11.1% |
| 1964 | 55,000 metric tons | +10.0% |
| 1965 | 55,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 60,000 metric tons | +9.1% |
| 1967 | 60,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 70,000 metric tons | +16.7% |
| 1969 | 70,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 71,700 metric tons | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 92,000 metric tons | +28.3% |
| 1972 | 99,000 metric tons | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 96,161 metric tons | -2.9% |
| 1974 | 100,000 metric tons | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 100,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 105,000 metric tons | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 120,000 metric tons | +14.3% |
| 1978 | 20,000 metric tons | -83.3% |
| 1979 | 20,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 20,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 20,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 20,000 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 6,832 metric tons | -65.8% |
| 1984 | 14,271 metric tons | +108.9% |
| 1985 | 22,041 metric tons | +54.4% |
| 1986 | 20,761 metric tons | -5.8% |
| 1987 | 14,542 metric tons | -30.0% |
| 1988 | 21,776 metric tons | +49.7% |
| 1989 | 20,050 metric tons | -7.9% |
| 1990 | 15,452 metric tons | -22.9% |
| 1991 | 18,557 metric tons | +20.1% |
| 1992 | 3,957 metric tons | -78.7% |
| 1993 | 21,591 metric tons | +445.6% |
| 1994 | 16,667 metric tons | -22.8% |
| 1995 | 44,754 metric tons | +168.5% |
| 1996 | 54,710 metric tons | +22.2% |
| 1997 | 39,514 metric tons | -27.8% |
| 1998 | 41,473 metric tons | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 41,401 metric tons | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 36,799 metric tons | -11.1% |
| 2001 | 36,806 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 39,155 metric tons | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 45,438 metric tons | +16.0% |
| 2004 | 40,905 metric tons | -10.0% |
| 2005 | 18,175 metric tons | -55.6% |
| 2006 | 54,309 metric tons | +198.8% |
| 2007 | 63,698 metric tons | +17.3% |
| 2008 | 61,999 metric tons | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 60,025 metric tons | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 53,932 metric tons | -10.2% |
| 2011 | 73,330 metric tons | +36.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 73,330 metric tons is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 93,796 metric tons, 78% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 73,330 metric tons is below the median for low income countries, which is 115,027 metric tons, 64% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sorghum production in Malawi 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 | +445.6% | 3,957 metric tons | 21,591 metric tons |
| 2006 | +198.8% | 18,175 metric tons | 54,309 metric tons |
| 1995 | +168.5% | 16,667 metric tons | 44,754 metric tons |
| 1984 | +108.9% | 6,832 metric tons | 14,271 metric tons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 56,111 metric tons | 40,000 metric tons | 70,000 metric tons | 9 |
| 1970s | 82,386 metric tons | 20,000 metric tons | 120,000 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 18,027 metric tons | 6,832 metric tons | 22,041 metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 29,808 metric tons | 3,957 metric tons | 54,710 metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 45,731 metric tons | 18,175 metric tons | 63,698 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 63,631 metric tons | 53,932 metric tons | 73,330 metric tons | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.8241 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 30.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 30.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sorghum production in Malawi?
- Sorghum production in Malawi was 73,330 metric tons in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest sorghum production recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 120,000 metric tons in 1977.
- What is the lowest sorghum production recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,957 metric tons in 1992.
- How does Malawi rank for sorghum production?
- Malawi ranks 24th out of 41 countries with data for 2011.
- Is sorghum production rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 99.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Sorghum production (metric tons). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Production data on sorghum 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.