Fruits
Papaya nutrition facts
A 1 undetermined fruit, small (157 g) serving of papaya provides 68 calories, 1 g protein, 17 g carbohydrate, and 0 g fat — about 4% of its calories from protein, 91% from carbohydrate, and 5% from fat. The interactive label below toggles between a serving and 100 g.
Calorie split
| Nutrient | Per 1 undetermined fruit, small (157 g) | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 68 | 43 |
| Protein | 1 g | 0 g |
| Total carbohydrate | 17 g | 11 g |
| Total fat | 0 g | 0 g |
Vitamins & minerals
Per serving (157 g)
- Vitamin C
- 95.6 mg
- Vitamin A (RAE)
- 73.8 mcg
- Vitamin E
- 0.47 mg
- Vitamin K
- 4.08 mcg
- Thiamin (B1)
- 0.04 mg
- Riboflavin (B2)
- 0.04 mg
- Niacin (B3)
- 0.56 mg
- Vitamin B6
- 0.06 mg
- Folate (DFE)
- 58.1 mcg
- Magnesium
- 33.0 mg
- Phosphorus
- 15.7 mg
- Zinc
- 0.13 mg
- Copper
- 0.07 mg
- Manganese
- 0.06 mg
- Selenium
- 0.94 mcg
Photo by Happy Surani on Unsplash
Selecting, storing & prepping papaya
- Selecting
- A ripe papaya gives slightly to gentle pressure and has mostly yellow-orange skin — some green patches are fine and don't mean it's underripe.
- Storing
- Unripe papayas ripen at room temperature over a few days. Once ripe, refrigerate and use within about a week.
- Prepping
- The black seeds are edible and peppery — some cooks blend a spoonful into dressings for a mild kick, though most simply scoop and discard them.
Storage guidance from the USDA FoodKeeper database (FSIS, Cornell University, and the Food Marketing Institute).
Nutrition highlights
Per 1 undetermined fruit, small (157 g), papaya is an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of Folate and Dietary Fiber.
% of the FDA Daily Value per 1 undetermined fruit, small (157 g) serving.
Key metrics
Nutrient density
Per 100 kcal, papaya delivers about 8% of a Daily Value on average across 22 beneficial nutrients. The score is its percentile for that measure among the 177 foods in our database — higher means more nutrition per calorie. How this is calculated.
- More vitamin C than 96% of foods · 93% of fruits
- More vitamin A than 80% of foods · 85% of fruits
Density counts protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals (not fat, sodium, or sugar), each capped so a single nutrient can’t dominate, with a calorie floor so very-low-calorie foods aren’t overstated. It measures nutrition per calorie within our database — a useful guide, not a complete verdict on how “healthy” a food is.
Similar foods & swaps
The closest fruits to papaya by nutrition (per 100 g), and how each differs.
Questions
- How many calories are in papaya?
- A 1 undetermined fruit, small (157 g) serving of papaya has about 68 calories. Per 100 g, it has 43 calories — a low calorie density.
- How much protein is in papaya?
- Papaya provides about 1 g of protein per 1 undetermined fruit, small (157 g) serving.
- What are the macros in papaya?
- Per serving, papaya has roughly 1 g protein, 17 g carbohydrate, and 0 g fat. By calories, that is 4% protein, 91% carbohydrate, and 5% fat.
- Is papaya high in protein?
- Papaya has a protein density of about 1.1 g per 100 kcal, and 4% of its calories come from protein. Foods above roughly 10 g per 100 kcal are generally considered protein-dense.
- What vitamins and minerals are in papaya?
- Per 1 undetermined fruit, small (157 g), papaya is a notable source of Vitamin C and Folate. The label above lists the full micronutrient profile with % Daily Values.
- What is the nutritional value of papaya?
- Per 1 undetermined fruit, small (157 g), papaya has 68 calories, 1 g protein, 17 g carbohydrate, and 0 g fat, plus notable amounts of Vitamin C and Folate. See the full nutrition facts label above for every vitamin and mineral.
Use it
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References & methodology
- Data source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service — FoodData Central, FDC ID 169926 (public domain).
- Daily Values: FDA Nutrition Facts label, 2016 update (adults and children aged 4+).
- Source claims: a serving supplying 10–19% of the Daily Value is a “good source”; 20% or more is an “excellent source” (FDA, 21 CFR 101.54).
- Calorie split: Atwater general factors — 4 kcal/g for protein and carbohydrate, 9 kcal/g for fat.
- Last reviewed: June 2026. Values are typical figures and vary with variety, ripeness, and preparation.
NutriFactsHub. “Papaya Nutrition Facts.” https://nutrifactshub.com/foods/papaya