This publication, prepared by the FAO Statistics Division, offers a synthesis of the major factors at play in the global food and agricultural landscape. Statistics are presented in four thematic chapters, covering the economic importance of agricultural activities, inputs, outputs and factors of production, their implications for food security and nutrition and their impacts on the environment. The Yearbook is meant to constitute a primary tool for policy makers, researchers and analysts, as well as the general public interested in the past, present and future path of food and agriculture.
THE STRUCTURE
The Statistical Yearbook 2020 is divided into four thematic chapters:
• Chapter 1 (Economic dimensions of agriculture) provides an overview of agriculture, forestry and fishing from an economic standpoint.
• Chapter 2 (Production, trade and prices of commodities) presents the outputs of the sector in terms of the production and trade of the different commodities and the evolution of prices.
• Chapter 3 (Food security and nutrition) looks at how some of these outputs are consumed by narrowing the focus on
food security and nutrition.
• Chapter 4 (Sustainability and environmental aspects of agriculture) deals with the impacts of the sector as a whole on the environment.
Each chapter draws on the latest available data to describe through text and charts the trends since the early 2000s. As data on each topic are produced according to different schedules and with different methods and sources, the latest year available can change between sections.

DATA PRESENTATION CONVENTIONS
The cut-off date for the data is 21 September 2020.
• When country data have not been reported for the reference year, an asterisk (*) on the year label indicates that the value for the most recent year available is shown. For example, 2016–2018* means that the most recent value for the period from 2016 to 2018 is shown.
• A billion is 1 000 million.
• A trillion is 1 000 billion.
• In data tables:
• A blank means that data are not available or that aggregates cannot be calculated because of missing data for the years shown.
• 0 or 0.0 means zero or a number that is small enough to round to zero at the displayed number of decimal places.
• <2.5 means a proportion less than 2.5 percent.
• <0.1 means less than 100 000 people.

Now more than ever, timely, accurate and high-quality statistics are essential to monitor trends and inform
policy decisions, whether concerning the longer-term challenge of delivering on the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), or the immediate threat represented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statistical work has been at the core of FAO’s activities and mandate since its foundation in 1945. FAO is
a leading provider of internationally comparable data on food, nutrition and agriculture, which is gathered
from national statistical offices and its network of partner agencies, and harmonized to paint a global
picture. Data provide, at the same time, the indispensable evidence base that countries require to formulate
policy decisions and monitor progress towards agreed objectives. All these data are summarized in this
Statistical Yearbook.

After seven years of absence, the revamp of the FAO Statistical Yearbook coincides with the 75th anniversary
of the Organization. This is per se a strong statement on the importance and value that FAO assigns to data
and statistics as a strategic global public good that contributes to shaping the future world, and is at the
foundation of our efforts to advance sustainable development.
Drawing on the wealth of information that FAO statisticians produce across the Organization, this
publication, prepared by the Statistics Division, offers a synthesis of the major factors at play in the global
food and agricultural landscape. Statistics are presented in four thematic chapters, covering the economic
importance of agricultural activities, inputs, outputs and factors of production, their implications for food
security and nutrition and their impacts on the environment. The Yearbook is meant to constitute a primary
tool for policy makers, researchers and analysts, as well as the general public interested in the past, present
and future path of food and agriculture.

It has to be noted that this Statistical Yearbook is only one of a series of tools and statistical publications that
FAO provides to users. The freely accessible FAOSTAT data platform contains the largest statistical database
on food and agriculture in the world, with approximately 20 000 indicators covering more than 245 countries
and territories, and around two million users each year. FAO’s Statistical Pocketbook complements the
Yearbook, by providing a quick and easy reference on the main facts and trends of food and agriculture.
In addition to compiling and disseminating data like those presented in this Yearbook, FAO is also involved
in strengthening the statistical capacity of countries to produce more and better data; setting standards and
methodologies; and leveraging big data innovations. FAO is committed to ensuring free access to current,
reliable, timely and trusted data, as it is necessary to chart a course towards a more sustainable agriculture
and a world free of hunger.