– 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.
Asia Cotton Production was 15,485 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.3% on 2022. The Asia Cotton Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of the region’s cotton cultivation performance and agricultural output trends between 2015 and 2023. Measured in Tonnes, the dataset serves as a benchmark for evaluating cotton production capacity, agricultural productivity, textile raw material availability, supply chain development, and Asia’s role in the global cotton industry.
Asia Cotton Production moved from 14,960 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 15,485 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+3.5%), an average of +0.4% a year. The series high was 15,867 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the low 14,711 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
The gap between the series high (2018) and low (2019) is 1,155 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −7.3% in 2019.
Within Asia, China has the highest value in 2023 at 5,618 Thousand Tonnes, 36.3% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Thousand Tonnes. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
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| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Thousand Tonnes↕ | vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 5,618 | −6.1% | |
| 2 | India | 5,529 | −3.4% | |
| 3 | Turkey | 777 | −23.6% | |
| 4 | Myanmar | 153.2 | 0% | |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 21.10 | −5.4% | |
| 6 | Israel | 14.04 | −19.8% | |
| 7 | Thailand | 1.51 | 0% | |
| 8 | Indonesia | 0.0407 | +14.1% | |
| 9 | Philippines | 0.0250 | −24.9% | |
| 10 | Vietnam | 0.00692 | −38.7% |
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 | 15,485 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 15,434 | −0.9% |
| 2021 | 15,579 | −0.5% |
| 2020 | 15,665 | +6.5% |
| 2019 Trough | 14,711 | −7.3% |
| 2018Peak | 15,867 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 15,810 | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 15,179 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 14,960 | — |
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).
Based on the validated data, Asia maintained a strong and stable cotton production base throughout the study period. Regional production increased from 14,960,261 tonnes in 2015 to 15,179,166 tonnes in 2016, reaching 15,810,414 tonnes in 2017 and a peak of 15,866,687 tonnes in 2018. Output declined to 14,711,304 tonnes in 2019, the lowest level during the period, before recovering to 15,664,997 tonnes in 2020. Production remained stable at 15,579,061 tonnes in 2021, decreased slightly to 15,434,299 tonnes in 2022, and reached 15,485,117 tonnes in 2023. The overall trend highlights Asia’s consistent cotton production capacity despite variations caused by agricultural conditions, market dynamics, and cultivation cycles.
The dataset provides valuable insights into Asia’s cotton production trends, agricultural performance, and textile supply chain development. China was the largest contributor, with production reaching 6,102,800 tonnes in 2018, while India recorded its highest output of 6,131,050 tonnes in 2020. Turkey also showed strong production capacity, reaching 1,017,500 tonnes in 2022. Other producers, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Israel, and the Philippines, supported regional supply diversity. The dataset enables historical analysis, benchmarking, market evaluation, and forecasting. Farmers, textile manufacturers, exporters, policymakers, investors, and researchers can use the data to assess production trends, optimize agricultural strategies, evaluate supply availability, and strengthen cotton value chain development across Asia.
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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).
Asia Cotton Production was 15,485 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.3% on 2022.
Asia Cotton Production moved from 14,960 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 15,485 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+3.5%), an average of +0.4% a year. The series high was 15,867 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the low 14,711 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
The highest value was 15,867 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the lowest was 14,711 Thousand Tonnes in 2019.
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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