The biggest agricultural producers in the world depend on the crop, and output is spread across many countries. In 2024 India grew the most rice (218 MT, just ahead of China), the United States the most maize (378 MT), China the most wheat, apples and potatoes, and India the most bananas and mangoes (FAOSTAT).
Food moves the world. For many people, together with access to clean water, food security is the main concern, which makes agriculture one of the key economic activities in the world.
Agricultural production is not concentrated in a few places. Most large countries are major producers of several crops, and the leader changes from one crop to the next. The figures below are the latest full year published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAOSTAT, 2024 production).
Biggest cereal producers in the world
Rice (paddy): the world produced 820 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. India led with 218 MT, 27% of the total, followed by China (208 MT), Bangladesh (60.6 MT), Indonesia (53.1 MT) and Vietnam (43.5 MT). Asia grew 89% of the world’s rice.
Wheat: the world produced 798 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. China led with 140 MT, 18% of the total, followed by India (113 MT), Russia (82.6 MT), United States (53.7 MT) and Canada (35.9 MT). Asia grew 47% of the world’s wheat.
Maize (corn): the world produced 1,218 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. The United States led with 378 MT, 31% of the total, followed by China (295 MT), Brazil (115 MT), Argentina (57.5 MT) and India (40.2 MT). Asia grew 33% of the world’s maize.
Biggest fruit producers in the world
Bananas: the world produced 139 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. India led with 37.6 MT, 27% of the total, followed by China (11.8 MT), Indonesia (9.3 MT), Ecuador (7.6 MT) and Brazil (7.0 MT). Asia grew 52% of the world’s bananas.
Apples: the world produced 98 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. China led with 51.3 MT, 52% of the total, followed by United States (4.9 MT), Türkiye (4.4 MT), Poland (3.4 MT) and India (2.6 MT). Asia grew 69% of the world’s apples.
Mangoes, guavas and mangosteens: the world produced 62 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. India led with 27.8 MT, 45% of the total, followed by Indonesia (4.1 MT), China (4.1 MT), Mexico (2.7 MT) and Brazil (2.4 MT). Asia grew 74% of the world’s mangoes.
Oranges: the world produced 67 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. Brazil led with 15.7 MT, 23% of the total, followed by China (7.6 MT), Mexico (4.8 MT), Egypt (4.2 MT) and India (3.9 MT). Asia grew 32% of the world’s oranges.
Biggest vegetable producers in the world
Potatoes: the world produced 390 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. China led with 94.8 MT, 24% of the total, followed by India (57.1 MT), Ukraine (21.1 MT), United States (19.1 MT) and Russia (18.4 MT). Asia grew 53% of the world’s potatoes.
Carrots and turnips: the world produced 45 million tonnes (MT) in 2024. China led with 19.0 MT, 42% of the total, followed by Uzbekistan (3.6 MT), India (2.8 MT), Russia (1.4 MT) and United States (1.1 MT). Asia grew 68% of the world’s carrots and turnips.
Source: FAOSTAT, Crops and livestock products (production quantities, 2024), UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Last updated: October 2026
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