– Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes.
Europe Cheese Production was 13,896 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.5% on 2022. The Europe Cheese Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of cheese production across Europe between 2015 and 2023. Measured in Thousand Tonnes, the dataset serves as a valuable benchmark for evaluating regional dairy production, processing capacity, agricultural productivity, milk utilization, and the overall performance of the cheese industry.
Europe Cheese Production moved from 12,761 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 13,896 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+8.9%), an average of +1.1% a year. The series high was 13,896 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 12,761 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 1,135 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +4.1% in 2020.
Within Europe, Poland has the highest value in 2023 at 1,064 Thousand Tonnes, 7.7% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Thousand Tonnes. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Thousand Tonnes↕ | vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poland | 1,064 | +5.3% | |
| 2 | Netherlands | 1,019 | +4.7% | |
| 3 | Spain | 535.9 | −0.7% | |
| 4 | UK | 509.9 | −0.4% | |
| 5 | Denmark | 496.7 | +6.5% | |
| 6 | Switzerland | 216.4 | −1.5% | |
| 7 | Finland | 84.72 | +2.9% | |
| 8 | Sweden | 79.44 | +1.2% | |
| 9 | Germany | 3.04 | +0.6% | |
| 10 | France | 2.22 | −0.4% | |
| 11 | Italy | 1.34 | −1.1% |
Full series
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 13,896 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 13,829 | −0.4% |
| 2021 | 13,878 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 13,630 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 13,090 | −0.2% |
| 2018 | 13,120 | −0.3% |
| 2017 | 13,156 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 12,938 | +1.4% |
| 2015 Trough | 12,761 | — |
Data definition
Cheese Production — – Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the output of the dairy processing industry by measuring the production of cheese manufactured from milk. It is used to assess the scale of dairy processing, value-added agricultural production, and the performance of the cheese manufacturing sector. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The data includes the annual production of natural and processed cheese manufactured from milk obtained from dairy animals. It covers cheese produced for domestic consumption, industrial use, and export, including a wide range of cheese varieties reported through official national agricultural and food manufacturing statistics. The figures represent gross domestic cheese production compiled and standardized by the FAO to ensure international comparability across countries and years.
The data excludes raw milk production, butter, yogurt, cream, milk powder, whey products, and other dairy products that are not classified as cheese. It also excludes cheese imports and exports, retail sales, inventories, informal or unrecorded production not captured in official statistics, and cheese substitutes made from non-dairy ingredients such as plant-based alternatives.
Cheese Production — – Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the output of the dairy processing industry by measuring the production of cheese manufactured from milk. It is used to assess the scale of dairy processing, value-added agricultural production, and the performance of the cheese manufacturing sector. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
It consolidates production data from major producers, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland, and the remaining countries in Europe, providing a comprehensive view of regional production trends and long-term dairy sector development. Based on the validated data, Europe's cheese production increased from 12,761.05 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 12,937.67 thousand tonnes in 2016 and 13,155.72 thousand tonnes in 2017, before easing marginally to 13,120.27 thousand tonnes in 2018 and 13,090.11 thousand tonnes in 2019. Regional output expanded significantly to 13,630.01 thousand tonnes in 2020 and reached 13,878.32 thousand tonnes in 2021. Production moderated slightly to 13,829.09 thousand tonnes in 2022 before increasing to a period high of 13,896.19 thousand tonnes in 2023. The remaining European countries accounted for the largest share of regional production throughout the period, while Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom remained among the principal contributors. Poland recorded one of the strongest growth trajectories, the Netherlands consistently maintained high production levels, and Spain, Denmark, and Switzerland contributed stable output, supporting sustained regional expansion. Overall, the dataset provides valuable insights into cheese production trends, dairy manufacturing performance, and agricultural value addition across Europe. It supports year-over-year trend analysis, regional and international benchmarking, production forecasting, and evaluation of dairy processing efficiency. Policymakers, dairy producers, processors, exporters, investors, market analysts, and researchers can leverage the dataset to assess industry competitiveness, identify growth opportunities, strengthen supply chain resilience, encourage innovation, and formulate evidence-based strategies that promote sustainable growth across Europe's dairy industry.
Using this data in a report, paper or presentation? Copy a formatted citation.
Definition – Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the output of the dairy processing industry by measuring the production of cheese manufactured from milk. It is used to assess the scale of dairy processing, value-added agricultural production, and the performance of the cheese manufacturing sector. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Europe Cheese Production was 13,896 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.5% on 2022.
Europe Cheese Production moved from 12,761 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 13,896 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+8.9%), an average of +1.1% a year. The series high was 13,896 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 12,761 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The highest value was 13,896 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 12,761 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
Included: The data includes the annual production of natural and processed cheese manufactured from milk obtained from dairy animals. It covers cheese produced for domestic consumption, industrial use, and export, including a wide range of cheese varieties reported through official national agricultural and food manufacturing statistics. The figures represent gross domestic cheese production compiled and standardized by the FAO to ensure international comparability across countries and years. Excluded: The data excludes raw milk production, butter, yogurt, cream, milk powder, whey products, and other dairy products that are not classified as cheese. It also excludes cheese imports and exports, retail sales, inventories, informal or unrecorded production not captured in official statistics, and cheese substitutes made from non-dairy ingredients such as plant-based alternatives.
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?time=2023&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls&pickerSort=asc&Food=Cheese&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
Need more data?
Need a longer historical series, a custom country set, additional dimensions, or a tailored dataset? Send us your requirement.