Estimated Total Number of Cocoa Farmers Worldwide and the Share of Small Family Farms

This is a very important statistic for understanding the structure of world cocoa production and the social issues linked to it. Here are the generally accepted estimates:

Total Number of Cocoa Farmers Worldwide:

• There are estimated to be between 5 and 6 million cocoa farmers worldwide.
• Some sources even widen this estimate, indicating that the cocoa sector supports up to 50 million people worldwide (including farmers' families and indirect workers).

Share of Family Smallholders:

• World cocoa production is overwhelmingly dominated by family smallholders.
• It is estimated that more than 90% (and up to 95% according to some sources) of world cocoa production comes from these small family farms.
• Definition of a smallholder: The size of a "small farm" varies slightly depending on definitions and regions, but it is generally characterised by an area of less than 5 hectares (often between 2 and 5 hectares).
  • For example, in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, which together account for about 60% of world production, the average size of cocoa farms is often cited as 2 to 3.5 hectares.

Implications of these figures:

• Social and Economic Issues: The fact that production rests on millions of smallholders, often located in rural areas of developing countries, raises crucial questions of decent incomes, poverty, access to services (education, health) and vulnerability to price fluctuations.
• Sustainability: Promoting sustainable farming practices and fighting deforestation and child labour necessarily requires direct commitment to, and support for, these millions of small producers.
• Supply Chain Complexity: The large number of small producers makes traceability and the implementation of sustainability standards complex, although significant progress is being made thanks to company programmes and certifications.

These figures underline that any discussion of the future of the cocoa sector must take into account the reality and needs of the millions of small family farmers who are its foundation.