Lower over the period
Asia Tobacco Production moved from 4,381 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 4,183 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (−4.5%), an average of −0.5% a year. The series high was 4,390 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the low 3,892 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
What Asia Tobacco Production shows
Asia Tobacco Production was 4,183 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, up 2.2% on 2023. Asia remained the world's largest tobacco-producing region between 2015 and 2024, accounting for the highest share of global tobacco cultivation and harvested output. Regional tobacco production totaled 4,377,177.74 tonnes in 2015, followed by 4,208,816.03 tonnes in 2016, 4,059,728.14 tonnes in 2017, and 3,923,021.51 tonnes in 2018, reflecting a gradual decline during the first half of the period.
A 11.4% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2019) and low (2022) is 498.9 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +11.9% in 2019.
China leads the region
Within Asia, China has the highest value in 2024 at 2,256 Thousand Tonnes, 53.9% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Tobacco Production by country, 2024
Thousand Tonnes. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
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| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Thousand Tonnes↕ | vs 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 2,256 | −1.8% | |
| 2 | India | 727.2 | 0% | |
| 3 | Indonesia | 353.4 | +23.3% | |
| 4 | Pakistan | 185 | +21.8% | |
| 5 | Turkey | 108 | +26.3% | |
| 6 | Thailand | 66.29 | −0.2% | |
| 7 | Philippines | 55.35 | +2.7% | |
| 8 | Vietnam | 48.31 | +24.9% | |
| 9 | South Korea | 27.95 | −0.2% | |
| 10 | Japan | 8.34 | −4.4% | |
| 11 | Taiwan | 1.39 | +0.2% | |
| 12 | UAE | 0.229 | −3.7% | |
| 13 | Malaysia | 0.0800 | −27.3% | |
| 14 | Israel | 0.00447 | +0.4% |
By region
Tobacco Production by region
Thousand Tonnes, 2024. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Asia Tobacco Production by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,183 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 4,091 | +5.1% |
| 2022 Trough | 3,892 | −0.3% |
| 2021 | 3,905 | 0% |
| 2020 | 3,903 | −11.1% |
| 2019Peak | 4,390 | +11.9% |
| 2018 | 3,925 | −3.4% |
| 2017 | 4,063 | −3.5% |
| 2016 | 4,213 | −3.8% |
| 2015 | 4,381 | — |
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
Tobacco Production — Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
Tobacco production includes the annual harvested quantity of raw tobacco leaves from commercially cultivated tobacco plants. It covers major tobacco varieties such as flue-cured, burley, oriental, and other types grown by small-scale farmers and large agricultural producers. The indicator includes tobacco crops produced within national boundaries for use in the manufacturing of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and other processed tobacco products. It accounts for agricultural activities related to cultivation, harvesting, and primary crop output measured in tonnes.
Tobacco production excludes processed tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and other finished tobacco goods. It does not include tobacco manufacturing, packaging, distribution, retail sales, consumption, imports, or exports of tobacco products. The indicator also excludes synthetic nicotine products, non-tobacco nicotine alternatives, experimental tobacco cultivation, and broader economic measures such as tobacco industry revenue, employment, market value, or trade statistics.
About this indicator
Tobacco Production — Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
Production recovered strongly in 2019, reaching 4,388,759.89 tonnes, before declining to 3,901,539.83 tonnes in 2020. The region remained relatively stable in 2021 with 3,902,804.40 tonnes, followed by 3,889,909.64 tonnes in 2022. Production increased again to 4,089,202.63 tonnes in 2023 and further to 4,180,970.79 tonnes in 2024, demonstrating the resilience of Asia's tobacco farming sector. Major producers including China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines contributed significantly to regional output. Tobacco cultivation across Asia is supported by extensive agricultural land, favorable climatic conditions, established farming practices, and strong domestic and export demand. While annual production fluctuated due to weather conditions, cultivation patterns, government policies, labor availability, and market demand, the region consistently maintained the highest production volumes globally. This indicator measures only the harvested quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves and excludes cigarette manufacturing, processed tobacco products, trade, consumption, and tobacco industry revenues. Overall, Asia's tobacco production remained above 3.8 million tonnes throughout the decade, highlighting its dominant position in global tobacco agriculture. The increase from 3.89 million tonnes in 2022 to 4.18 million tonnes in 2024 further reflects renewed production growth and sustained cultivation across several leading tobacco-producing countries.
- Indicator
- Tobacco Production
- Region
- Asia
- Unit
- Thousand Tonnes
- Coverage
- 2015–2024, annual
- Category
- Agriculture
- Last updated
- July 2026
- Source
- Our World in Data
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Frequently asked questions
What is Asia Tobacco Production?
Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
What was Asia Tobacco Production in 2024?
Asia Tobacco Production was 4,183 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, up 2.2% on 2023.
How has Asia Tobacco Production changed between 2015 and 2024?
Asia Tobacco Production moved from 4,381 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 4,183 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (−4.5%), an average of −0.5% a year. The series high was 4,390 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the low 3,892 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
Which year had the highest and lowest Asia Tobacco Production?
The highest value was 4,390 Thousand Tonnes in 2019 and the lowest was 3,892 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
What does the Asia Tobacco Production data include and exclude?
Included: Tobacco production includes the annual harvested quantity of raw tobacco leaves from commercially cultivated tobacco plants. It covers major tobacco varieties such as flue-cured, burley, oriental, and other types grown by small-scale farmers and large agricultural producers. The indicator includes tobacco crops produced within national boundaries for use in the manufacturing of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and other processed tobacco products. It accounts for agricultural activities related to cultivation, harvesting, and primary crop output measured in tonnes. Excluded: Tobacco production excludes processed tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and other finished tobacco goods. It does not include tobacco manufacturing, packaging, distribution, retail sales, consumption, imports, or exports of tobacco products. The indicator also excludes synthetic nicotine products, non-tobacco nicotine alternatives, experimental tobacco cultivation, and broader economic measures such as tobacco industry revenue, employment, market value, or trade statistics.
Where does the Asia Tobacco Production data come from?
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?tab=table&Food=Tobacco&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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