The World Potato Atlas
Population and Per Capita Potato Production
(Please note, as of December 2008: This map has been updated in 2008, but these are the notes from 2006, to be revised soon.)
In 1999, CIP published A Global Geo-Referenced Database of Potato Distribution for 1995-1997, by Luisa Huaccho and Robert J. Hijmans, based on data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other sources. This map is one of several which updates that effort, with more specific reference to the per capita “local importance” of potato.
According to the FAO, if you were an average global citizen, you would consume about 33 kilograms of potato every year. By continent, average consumption is highest in Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe. Average annual per capita potato consumption in Belarus, the highest reported by country in the world, exceeds 335 kilograms. Ironically, per capita consumption in Peru, the country of the potato’s site of origin, is well below the average for Europe, although at around 80 kilograms is still relatively high.
This map does not directly display per capita consumption, but rather provides a simpler measure of the local importance of potato, an estimation of per capita production. Consumption is affected by several other factors not considered here, such as long-distance commerce, waste, changes in stocks from one year to the next, and uses made of potato other than direct consumption.
Production is displayed relative to population density, classified according to average kilograms per capita for a given area. How important is the potato, and to how many people? In some regions of the world, the potato crop is essential to low or moderately high concentrations of people, while in others it is less essential (but still very important for subsistence and/or income generation) to a great many. Countries displayed on the map, and included in the table below, are those where production is estimated above ten kilograms per capita, at least within part of the country, and where population is greater than 500,000.
Since 1999, total global potato production has remained fairly consistent, but with a significant shift of distribution. Even though the potato remains an essential crop to Eastern and Central Europe (as obvious from a glance at the map), area under cultivation has generally been declining over the past decade, for example in the Balkans, Poland, and Bulgaria. (However, in some cases production has been roughly maintained via increasing yields.) Meanwhile, the potato crops of southern and eastern Asia have generally been expanding very rapidly, both in terms of area cultivated and average yields, in large part to meet the growing demand for potatoes from urban populations. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, China is now by far the world’s primary potato-producing and consuming country.
What has changed dramatically in some areas is not so much the amount of per capita production, but rather in what form potatoes are consumed. The United States provides a good example, where since 1960 per capita consumption of potatoes in fresh form has declined by 43 percent, while consumption of potatoes in processed form has increased by 247 percent.[1] For better or worse, the “French fry” is becoming a global product. Pending more data on this topic, the atlas might someday include a “fry map.”
The primary source of data is the FAO, reported by country. This map displays data at smaller units where available and appropriate. The total estimate of per capita production for each country (the total population times estimated per capita production for the country as a whole or the sum of smaller political units) is within five to ten percent of total reported production. Production data are averages of reported values for three years, 2003 through 2005. For countries included in the atlas, please refer to the respective chapters for more information on data sources.
Areas indicated as “no data” are those where potato is known to be a significant crop, at least locally, but where data are not currently reported. Those areas include: Afghanistan, Burundi, Iraq, OccupiedPalestinianTerritories, and Papua New Guinea.
For this map, each country has been classified into one of two major categories, as indicated in the table below:
- One per capita value is displayed for the entire country, for one of four reasons:
1A.Potato is produced for country-wide consumption.
Potato is often grown in a few areas of intensive production (the United States again being a good example), but it is widely marketed and consumed within the country (and in some cases internationally). One value of average per capita production for the entire country is therefore appropriate. Other areas include Canada, Japan, Australia, and all countries of Western and Central Europe.
1B.The distributions of people and potato crops generally coincide.
Potato might be produced either for local consumption or for commercial markets, but potato crops and people are generally concentrated in the same areas, so that the “local importance” of potato is likely to be fairly consistent within the country. Examples include most countries of Central Asia and North Africa.
1C.Local within-country data are not complete or reliable.
Russia is the most obvious example, where one data value is reported for the entire country since production data are not reported at a finer scale.
1D.The country is very small in area and/or population.
Given the limitations of cartographic display for a global map, one value is reported for small countries, e.g. Albania, Bhutan, and Uruguay.
- Values are estimated and displayed at variable rates within the country.
2A.Potato is produced for a mix of distant markets and local consumption.
In these countries, demand for potatoes by urban populations is often a factor of growing importance, but the “local importance” of potato (as reflected in marketing and/or consumption) is highest in areas of high production, often far from population centers. Estimates have been made based on the literature for each country (especially those included as atlas chapters), but annual per capita use of potato by people living in major cities of Asia is generally estimated to be around 20 kilograms. For people living in major cities of Latin America, per capita consumption is typically at 50 to 60 kilograms. Countries in this category include: China, India, Turkey, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, and all countries with a significant potato crop in South and Central America.
2B.Potato is produced mostly for local consumption and/or local markets.
Where potato is a significant crop, but rarely travels far after harvest, per capita production is estimated from the best available data of potato production and populations for sub-national areas. Potato might be a very important crop in one region of a country and unknown elsewhere, accounting for per capita production values as low as zero in some cases. Countries in this category include nearly all of Sub-Saharan Africa, e.g. Angola, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
Each dot of the map represents an estimated 1,000,000 people. Smaller districts are often aggregated in order to more accurately represent the total population of each country. The placement of dots within areas is random, hence does not precisely indicate cities or other population centers.
Population figures provided by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI, the creator of ArcGIS/ ArcMap software used to generate this map) have in many cases been revised, usually upwards, based on a consensus of other sources, including the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), United Nations data reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAOSTAT), Population Statistics (Populstat), and the CIA World Handbook (CIA). In a few cases, ESRI population data were revised slightly by a constant percentage to obtain estimates closer to consensus figures.
Map design and production by Kelly Theisen, using ESRI ArcGIS 9/ ArcMAP at CIP, Research Informatics Unit. Lima, Peru. August 2006, revised September 2007.
Summary table and data notes follow.
Global Summary of Potato Production Per Capita, National and Sub-National Areas
Continent/Region / Subregion / Country / Category /
Potato Production
(Kilograms Per Capita)National Average or Range
Africa / Africa, Central / Malawi / 1B / 29
Rwanda / 2B / 75 – 225
Africa, East / Eritrea / 2B / 0 – 15
Ethiopia / 2B / 0 – 45
Kenya / 2A / 0 – 55
Madagascar / 2B / 0 – 25
Tanzania / 2B / 0 – 35
Uganda / 2A / 12 – 45
Africa, North / Algeria / 1B / 62
Egypt / 1B / 33
Libya / 1B / 34
Morocco / 2A / 9 – 72
Tunisia / 1B / 34
Africa, South / Angola / 2B / 0 – 85
Lesotho / 1D / 44
Mozambique / 2B / 0 – 15
South Africa / 2A / 15 – 115
Africa, West / Cameroon / 2B / 0 – 75
Chad / 2B / 0 – 25
Nigeria / 2B / 0 – 65
Americas / Americas, Caribbean / Cuba / 1A / 28
Dominican Republic / 2A / 0 – 12
Americas, Central / Costa Rica / 1D / 18
Guatemala / 2A / 9 – 65
México / 2A / 5 – 55
Americas, North / Canada / 1A / 160
USA / 1A / 69
Americas, South / Argentina / 2A / 25 – 135
Bolivia / 2A / 25 – 135
Brazil / 2A / 0 – 35
Chile / 2A / 25 – 135
Colombia / 2A / 9 – 155
Ecuador / 2A / 9 – 105
Peru / 2A / 25 – 185
Americas / Americas, South / Uruguay / 1D / 47
Venezuela / 2A / 0 – 55
Eurasia
/ Asia, Central / Afghanistan / 2A / 5 – 10Kazakhstan / 1B / 155
Kyrgyzstan / 1B / 250
Tajikistan / 1B / 85
Turkmenistan / 1B / 31
Uzbekistan / 1B / 34
Asia, East / China / 2A / 15 – 185
Japan / 1A / 23
Korea, South / 1A / 14
Korea, North / 1C / 90
Asia, South / Bangladesh / 2A / 12 – 38
India / 2A / 12 – 105
Myanmar / 2B / 0 – 55
Nepal / 1B / 66
Pakistan / 2A / 3 – 18
Asia, Southeast / Indonesia / 2A / 3 – 12
Laos / 2B / 0 – 12
Viet Nam / 2A / 3 – 12
Asia, West / Armenia / 1D / 179
Azerbaijan / 1D / 113
Cyprus / 1D / 170
Georgia / 1D / 71
Iran / 2A / 32 – 185
Israel / 1A / 86
Jordan / 1B / 28
Lebanon / 1D / 128
Saudi Arabia / 1A / 16
Syria / 1B / 31
Turkey / 2A / 15 – 195
Yemen / 2A / 5 – 35
Eurasia, Russia / Russian Federation / 1C / 252
Europe, Central-East / Albania / 1D / 51
Belarus / 1B / 865
Bosnia-Herzegovina / 1B / 98
Bulgaria / 1B / 60
Eurasia / Europe, Central-East / Croatia / 1B / 82
CzechRepublic / 1A / 82
Estonia / 1D / 156
Hungary / 1A / 69
Latvia / 1D / 293
Lithuania / 1D / 329
Macedonia / 1D / 91
Moldova / 1D / 77
Poland / 1B / 328
Romania / 1B / 169
Serbia-Montenegro / 1B / 93
Slovakia / 1B / 70
Slovenia / 1B / 71
Ukraine / 1B / 398
Europe, West / Austria / 1A / 82
Belgium-Luxembourg / 1A / 276
Denmark / 1A / 290
Finland / 1A / 128
France / 1A / 112
Germany / 1A / 135
Greece / 1A / 86
Ireland / 1A / 127
Italy / 1A / 29
Netherlands / 1A / 421
Norway / 1A / 81
Portugal / 1A / 67
Spain / 1A / 64
Sweden / 1A / 104
Switzerland / 1A / 69
United Kingdom / 1A / 102
Oceania / (All Oceanía) / Australia / 1A / 64
New Zealand / 1A / 131
Notes on several countries are as follows. (Countries in greenare included in the 2006 World Potato Atlas. Countries in blueare included in the Atlas Archives.)
Angola: FAO reported 11,000 hectares in 2001, 42,000 hectares in 2002, 74,ooo hectares in 2003, and 103,000 hectares for 2004. However, production is reported as relatively constant through these years, as average yields are reported to have declined from nearly 14 tons per hectare to below 4 tons per hectare. The 2003 estimate, of 74,000 hectares with an average yield of 4.1 tons per hectare, is used here, distributed sub-nationally according to a special report issued jointly by FAO and the World Food Programme in 2003. Since root and tuber crop cultivation has generally been underestimated in this region of Africa, the higher estimates are probably more accurate, but still very tentative.
Burundi: Production data reported by FAO have not changed significantly for several years, but are extremely low compared to adjacent countries, especially Rwanda. Per capita production would therefore be less than ten kilograms per capita, but given the potential and likely greater actual potato production in Burundi, the country is classified as “No data.”
Cameroon:Production data are based on a survey undertaken in 2001, which estimated total cultivation nearly three times the area reported by FAO. (Please see the Cameroon chapter of the atlas.) Since the survey was limited to areas of relatively high production, total production data have been slightly redistributed to “smooth” the surface of Cameroon where potato production is most feasible, generally at higher altitudes. Actual potato cultivation could be higher in some areas than indicated here. Some of Cameroon’s potato crop is marketed, but likely not much beyond the primary areas of production.
China:Chongqing has been an independent province since 1997, formerly part of Sichuan, but not yet listed as a separate province by the ESRI database used here. The map display is of data of the more generalized amalgamation of the now two separate provinces.
Colombia: Potato cultivation data reported by FAO are roughly consistent with other literature, all of which are probably incomplete. Much of the area of the Colombian Andes has for years been under tentative government control, hence limited data availability. Consumption is estimated based on total reported production, mostly consumed in the higher altitude regions where potato is grown. However, overall production could be considerably higher than indicated by this map.
Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire): The Kivu District to the east, adjacent to Rwanda and Burundi, probably contains areas of relatively high potato cultivation at higher altitudes. However, since the population of the district is large (roughly nine million) and includes extensive areas not suitable to potato production, the overall per capita production rate is low.
Ethiopia: As with Cameroon, potato data are based on a survey of high-production areas. Estimated distribution is consistent with previous work by CIP, but using national data as estimated by the survey. (Please see the Ethiopia chapter of the atlas.) This estimate of production, though much higher than data reported by FAO, could nevertheless be quite conservative.
India:As with China, the map reflects distribution of production consistent with available literature. A growing proportion of Indian potatoes is consumed in areas far from the harvest.
Malawi: Data are displayed as reported via the Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) for 2004, not as reported via FAO. FAO reports much higher production of potato and nothing of sweetpotato (grown much more extensively than potato), apparently reflecting a confusion of the two crops.
Nepal:A consistent national average is displayed, although some literature indicates that per capita consumption is relatively lower in the lower altitude regions adjacent to India. At higher altitudes characterizing most of the country, potato cultivation is fairly consistent with population density.
Nigeria: Data reported by FAO indicate a gradual but consistent national upward trend over the past five years, known from other sources to be concentrated in areas of higher altitude, centered on the Plateau and KanoStates. The map displays estimated area of production with some “smoothing” of data across adjacent areas of relatively high altitude.
Peru: Sub-national distribution is based on data provided by B.R. Egusquiza (November 2000): La Papa: Producción, Transformación, y Comercialización (RedePapa) and adjusted to higher national estimates for 2002 through 2005.
Puerto Rico: As a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States, data pertaining to Puerto Rico are not reported by FAO.
Sudan:Reliable agricultural data are not currently available. Potato production has been reported as minor, but with some concentration around the capital city of Khartoum and the Marra Plateau area to the west. It is very unlikely, however, that per capita production exceeds ten kilograms over any extensive areas of the country.
Taiwan: As a province of China (although de facto independent), data for Taiwan are not reported by FAO.
1
[1] Harper’s Magazine, Harper’s Index. June 2006, citing data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Date of USDA report not indicated.