Land Devoted to Cocoa Growing in the Main Producing Countries

This is a key statistic for understanding cocoa farming's footprint on the planet and the importance of the crop for the main producing countries.

It is important to note that exact figures may vary slightly depending on the source (FAOSTAT, ICCO, national estimates) and the reference year, because areas can fluctuate with new plantings, the abandonment of old plots, or census methods. The most complete and globally harmonised data often come from FAOSTAT, with some time lag.

World Area Devoted to Cocoa Farming:

• According to the most recent estimates and commonly cited sources (such as CIRAD or compilations based on FAO and ICCO data), the world area devoted to growing cocoa trees is estimated at more than 12 million hectares.
  • Note: This figure may sometimes refer to the total area where cocoa is present, whereas the "area harvested", which is the statistic most often reported by FAOSTAT, may be slightly lower.

Areas Devoted to Cocoa Farming in the Main Producing Countries (estimates for recent years, mainly based on FAOSTAT data for "area harvested" around 2021/2022, which are among the most recent available for an international comparison):

It is crucial to note that these figures are orders of magnitude and that more recent national-level data may exist for some countries.

1. Côte d'Ivoire:
   • This is the country with the largest area devoted to cocoa. Estimates vary, but recent FAOSTAT figures for harvested area were around 4.4 to 4.8 million hectares. More recent reports (such as the USDA's for 2024/2025) mention similar figures for harvested area (around 4.4 million hectares).
2. Ghana:
   • The second-largest producer has a harvested area estimated by FAOSTAT at around 1.5 to 1.9 million hectares. National sources (Cocobod) may provide more precise or updated figures, but the order of magnitude remains this. The 2022 Cocoa Barometer mentioned an average farm size of 2 hectares.
3. Indonesia:
   • The area of cocoa plantations in Indonesia is estimated at about 1.5 million hectares according to various sources, including national reports and sector studies. The majority (about 97%) is managed by smallholders.
4. Nigeria:
   • The harvested area is estimated by FAOSTAT at around 900,000 to 1.1 million hectares. Local sources and the 2022 Cocoa Barometer put the average farm size at about 2.3 hectares.
5. Cameroon:
   • FAOSTAT estimates for harvested area are generally around 600,000 to 700,000 hectares. The 2022 Cocoa Barometer cites an average farm size of 3.3 hectares.
6. Brazil:
   • Cocoa farming in Brazil covers about 600,000 to 700,000 hectares, mainly in the states of Bahia and Pará. Expansion plans are under way.
7. Ecuador:
   • The harvested area is estimated by FAOSTAT at around 400,000 to 550,000 hectares. Farms are mostly small (1 to 5 hectares).
8. Peru:
   • Peru grows cocoa on an area estimated at between 130,000 and 160,000 hectares (FAOSTAT and national sources).