Africa has become a significant rice-producing region. The continent's output has surged more than tenfold over six decades, from just 4.3 million tonnes in 1961 to 44.8 million tonnes in 2024.
This growth reflects significant agricultural development across multiple countries and has increased Africa's share of global rice production, though Asia still dominates, accounting for roughly 90% of world production in 2024.
Nigeria accounts for 9.1 million tonnes of African rice production annually, while Egypt, Tanzania, and Guinea each contribute millions of tonnes. Countries such as Côte d'Ivoire have experienced particularly dramatic growth, increasing from 156,000 tonnes in 1961 to 2.4 million tonnes in 2024.
Africa now produces more rice than the Americas (37.2 million tonnes) and significantly outpaces Europe (3.9 million tonnes) and Oceania (0.6 million tonnes). Despite this remarkable progress, Africa continues to import substantial quantities of rice to meet domestic demand.
The continent's 44.8 million tonnes represents just 6% of Asia's production, up from 2% in 1961. With Africa's population growing faster than rice production, continued output growth remains essential for food security across the continent.
