Sweet potato is one of the root crops with economic and nutritional relevance in poor regions of many developing countries in Asia, Africa, America, and the Caribbean.This crop contributes to the food security of these regions and is widely used in food preparations and pharmaceutical recipes, competing with other important root crops, such as cassava, potatoes, and yams.In this review, we sought to expose the most relevant aspects associated with the sweet potato crop, including a general morphological description, development characteristics, and varieties.Subsequently, the most relevant statistics in terms of sweet potato production, yield, and harvested area in the world were discussed.At this point, a distinction was made in the continents and countries with the highest participation, including a discussion of the importance of sweet potatoes in Colombia and the Caribbean Region.Finally, the nutritional, medicinal, and applicative relevance of the tuberous roots, leaves and other parts of the sweet potato plant were exposed.Its content of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and vitamins, especially vitamin A, was highlighted, which allows sweet potatoes to be considered as a substitute for basic food crops, such as potatoes.Through this, the potential productive, economic, and application development that sweet potatoes could have with greater research, technological, and political focus was highlighted.