10 Countries That Produce the Most Rice in the World

Rice is one of the most important crops in the world, providing food for more than half of the global population. But which countries produce the most rice? Here are the top 10 rice-producing countries in 2021, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

China

China is the world’s leading rice producer, harvesting over 148.9 million metric tons annually. Rice is grown in almost every province of China, but the largest areas are in the Yangtze River basin and the Pearl River delta. Rice is a staple food for most Chinese people, especially in the south and east of the country.

India

India is the second-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual output of over 158.7 million metric tons. Rice is cultivated in almost every state of India, but the major producing regions are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Rice is also a staple food for most Indians, especially in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the third-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual production of over 56.9 million metric tons. Rice is grown in almost every district of Bangladesh, but the main areas are Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions. Rice is not only a staple food for most Bangladeshis, but also a source of income and employment for millions of farmers.

Indonesia

Indonesia is the fourth-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual output of over 54.4 million metric tons. Rice is cultivated in almost every province of Indonesia, but the main regions are Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Kalimantan. Rice is also a staple food for most Indonesians, as well as a symbol of culture and tradition.

Vietnam

Vietnam is the fifth-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual production of over 43.8 million metric tons. Rice is grown in almost every province of Vietnam, but the main areas are the Mekong Delta and the Red River Delta. Rice is also a staple food for most Vietnamese people, as well as a major export commodity.

Thailand

Thailand is the sixth-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual output of over 33.5 million metric tons. Rice is cultivated in almost every region of Thailand, but the main areas are the Central Plains and the Northeast. Rice is also a staple food for most Thai people, as well as a source of national pride and identity.

Myanmar

Myanmar is the seventh-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual production of over 24.9 million metric tons. Rice is grown in almost every state and region of Myanmar, but the main areas are Ayeyarwady, Bago and Yangon divisions. Rice is also a staple food for most Myanmar people, as well as a key factor for food security and rural development.

Philippines

The Philippines is the eighth-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual output of over 19.9 million metric tons. Rice is cultivated in almost every province of the Philippines, but the main areas are Central Luzon, Western Visayas and Cagayan Valley. Rice is also a staple food for most Filipinos, as well as a political and social issue.

Pakistan

Pakistan is the ninth-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual production of over 13.9 million metric tons. Rice is grown in almost every province of Pakistan, but the main areas are Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. Rice is also a staple food for some Pakistanis, especially in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, as well as a major export earner.

Brazil

Brazil is the tenth-largest rice producer in the world, with an annual output of over 11.6 million metric tons. Rice is cultivated in almost every state of Brazil, but the main areas are Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso do Sul. Rice is also a staple food for some Brazilians, especially in Rio Grande do Sul state, as well as a source of biofuel.

Leading Producer of Rice in the World

Rice is one of the most important crops in the world, providing food for more than half of the global population. It is also a source of income, employment, and trade for many countries. In this blog post, we will look at the leading producer of rice in the world, as well as the trends and challenges in the global rice industry.

China: The Top Rice Producer

China is the largest rice producer in the world, harvesting over 148.9 million metric tons annually. China accounts for about 28% of the global rice production and has more than 30 million hectares of rice-cultivated area. China’s rice production has increased significantly over the past decades, thanks to improved varieties, irrigation, fertilization, and mechanization. However, China also faces some challenges, such as water scarcity, soil degradation, climate change, and urbanization, which may affect its future rice production and consumption.

India: The Second Largest Rice Producer

India is the second largest rice producer in the world, with 158.8 million metric tons of production in 2021. India produces about 22% of the global rice output and has about 45 million hectares of rice-cultivated area. India’s rice production has also grown rapidly over the years, due to the adoption of high-yielding varieties, expansion of irrigated area, and increased use of inputs. However, India also faces some challenges, such as low productivity, pest and disease outbreaks, environmental degradation, and market volatility, which may affect its rice competitiveness and food security.

Other Major Rice Producers

Besides China and India, there are other countries that produce significant amounts of rice in the world. According to the FAO, the top 10 rice producers in 2021 were:

China: 212.8 million metric tons
India: 195.4 million metric tons
Bangladesh: 56.9 million metric tons
Indonesia: 54.4 million metric tons
Vietnam: 43.9 million metric tons
Thailand: 33.6 million metric tons
Myanmar: 24.9 million metric tons
Philippines: 20.0 million metric tons
Pakistan: 14.0 million metric tons
Brazil: 11.7 million metric tons

These 10 countries produced about 85% of the world’s rice in 2021. All of them are located in Asia, except for Brazil, which is the largest rice producer in South America.

Global Rice Demand and Trade

The global demand for rice is expected to increase in the future, due to population growth, income growth, urbanization, and dietary changes. According to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029, the global rice consumption is projected to grow by 1% per year, reaching 576 million metric tons by 2029. The main drivers of rice consumption are Asia and Africa, which together account for more than 90% of the global rice demand.

The global trade of rice is also expected to increase in the future, due to the growing gap between production and consumption in some regions. According to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029, the global rice trade is projected to grow by 1.4% per year, reaching 51 million metric tons by 2029. The main exporters of rice are India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Myanmar, while the main importers are China, Nigeria, Philippines, Iran, and Indonesia.

Rice is a vital crop for many countries in the world, especially in Asia and Africa. China and India are the leading producers of rice in the world, followed by other Asian countries. The global demand and trade of rice are expected to increase in the future, due to various factors such as population growth, income growth, urbanization, and dietary changes. However, there are also some challenges that may affect the global rice industry, such as climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation, pest and disease outbreaks, environmental degradation, market volatility, and policy uncertainty.

References:

https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL

https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize

http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC
https://www.atlasbig.com/en-au/countries-by-rice-production
http://www.fao.org/publications/oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook/2020-2029/en/

List of countries by rice production – Wikipedia

Rice Production by Country 2023 – World Population Review

World rice acreage 2021 | Statista