– Cotton Production refers to the total quantity of cotton lint produced from harvested cotton crops within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes.
America Cotton Production was 6,078 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 5.1% on 2022. The America Cotton Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of the region’s cotton cultivation performance and agricultural output trends between 2015 and 2023.
America Cotton Production moved from 5,006 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 6,078 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+21.4%), an average of +2.5% a year. The series high was 7,716 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the low 5,006 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2019) and low (2015) is 2,710 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +17.7% in 2017.
Within America, Brazil has the highest value in 2023 at 2,924 Thousand Tonnes, 48.1% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Thousand Tonnes. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
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Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6,078 | −5.1% |
| 2022 | 6,402 | −4.1% |
| 2021 | 6,676 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 6,559 | −15% |
| 2019Peak | 7,716 | +16.5% |
| 2018 | 6,622 | −0.8% |
| 2017 | 6,679 | +17.7% |
| 2016 | 5,673 | +13.3% |
| 2015 Trough | 5,006 | — |
Data definition
Cotton Production — – Cotton Production refers to the total quantity of cotton lint produced from harvested cotton crops within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of cotton cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of cotton farming to the textile and agricultural sectors. It is used to assess global cotton supply, production capacity, and the availability of raw materials for textile manufacturing. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The data includes annual production of cotton lint obtained from harvested cotton plants and recorded as primary agricultural output. It covers cotton produced for textile manufacturing, yarn production, industrial processing, and export markets. The figures represent harvested cotton quantities collected from official agricultural statistics and standardized by the FAO to enable international comparison across countries and years.
The data excludes cotton fiber processing, yarn, fabrics, garments, and other finished textile products. It also excludes cottonseed production, cottonseed oil, cotton imports and exports, cultivated land area, cotton yield per hectare, and inventory changes. Post-harvest losses, informal or unrecorded cotton production not captured in official agricultural statistics, and synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and other non-cotton textile materials are also excluded from this indicator.
Cotton Production — – Cotton Production refers to the total quantity of cotton lint produced from harvested cotton crops within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of cotton cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of cotton farming to the textile and agricultural sectors. It is used to assess global cotton supply, production capacity, and the availability of raw materials for textile manufacturing. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Measured in Thousand Tonnes, the dataset serves as an important benchmark for evaluating regional cotton production capacity, agricultural productivity, textile raw material availability, export potential, and the development of the cotton industry across America. Based on the validated data, America’s cotton production experienced fluctuations during the study period while maintaining a strong production base supported by major producers including the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia. Regional cotton production started at 5,005.91 thousand tonnes in 2015 and increased to 5,673.42 thousand tonnes in 2016. Output continued rising to 6,678.80 thousand tonnes in 2017 and remained stable at 6,622.08 thousand tonnes in 2018. Production reached a study-period high of 7,715.58 thousand tonnes in 2019 before declining to 6,558.82 thousand tonnes in 2020. Output recovered to 6,676.29 thousand tonnes in 2021 but decreased to 6,401.64 thousand tonnes in 2022 and 6,078.07 thousand tonnes in 2023. The overall trend highlights America’s resilient cotton production capacity despite periodic changes caused by agricultural conditions, market dynamics, and production cycles. The dataset provides valuable insights into regional cotton production trends, agricultural performance, and supply chain development. The U.S. remained a major contributor, producing 2,627.06 thousand tonnes in 2023, while Brazil recorded strong growth from 1,626.72 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 2,923.68 thousand tonnes in 2023. Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia further supported regional supply. The dataset enables historical analysis, production benchmarking, market evaluation, and future forecasting. Farmers, textile manufacturers, exporters, policymakers, investors, researchers, and industry stakeholders can utilize the data to assess production trends, optimize agricultural strategies, evaluate investment opportunities, and strengthen cotton value chain development across America.
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Definition – Cotton Production refers to the total quantity of cotton lint produced from harvested cotton crops within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of cotton cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of cotton farming to the textile and agricultural sectors. It is used to assess global cotton supply, production capacity, and the availability of raw materials for textile manufacturing. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
America Cotton Production was 6,078 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 5.1% on 2022.
America Cotton Production moved from 5,006 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 6,078 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+21.4%), an average of +2.5% a year. The series high was 7,716 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the low 5,006 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The highest value was 7,716 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the lowest was 5,006 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
Included: The data includes annual production of cotton lint obtained from harvested cotton plants and recorded as primary agricultural output. It covers cotton produced for textile manufacturing, yarn production, industrial processing, and export markets. The figures represent harvested cotton quantities collected from official agricultural statistics and standardized by the FAO to enable international comparison across countries and years. Excluded: The data excludes cotton fiber processing, yarn, fabrics, garments, and other finished textile products. It also excludes cottonseed production, cottonseed oil, cotton imports and exports, cultivated land area, cotton yield per hectare, and inventory changes. Post-harvest losses, informal or unrecorded cotton production not captured in official agricultural statistics, and synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and other non-cotton textile materials are also excluded from this indicator.
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?time=latest&overlay=download-data&Food=Cotton&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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