Higher over the period
Europe Cotton Production moved from 335.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 346.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+3.2%), an average of +0.4% a year. The series high was 380 Thousand Tonnes in 2021 and the low 274.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
What Europe Cotton Production shows
Europe Cotton Production was 346.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 0% on 2022. The Europe Cotton Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of the region’s cotton cultivation performance and agricultural output trends between 2015 and 2023. Measured in Thousand Tonnes, the dataset serves as an important benchmark for evaluating regional cotton farming activity, agricultural productivity, textile raw material availability, and the development of Europe’s cotton sector.
A 27.7% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2021) and low (2016) is 105.2 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +32.7% in 2019.
Spain leads the region
Within Europe, Spain has the highest value in 2023 at 40.50 Thousand Tonnes, 11.7% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Cotton Production by country, 2023
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 | Spain | 40.50 | −0.1% |
Full series
Europe Cotton Production by year
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 | 346.2 | 0% |
| 2022 | 346.3 | −8.9% |
| 2021Peak | 380 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 374.2 | −1.3% |
| 2019 | 379.3 | +32.7% |
| 2018 | 285.9 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 280.9 | +2.2% |
| 2016 Trough | 274.8 | −18.1% |
| 2015 | 335.6 | — |
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
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.
About 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, Europe’s cotton production experienced fluctuations throughout the study period, with production reaching its highest level in 2019 before declining in subsequent years. Regional cotton production started at 335.60 thousand tonnes in 2015 and decreased to 274.85 thousand tonnes in 2016. Output increased slightly to 280.87 thousand tonnes in 2017 and reached 285.85 thousand tonnes in 2018. Production expanded significantly to 379.33 thousand tonnes in 2019, representing the highest production level during the period. Output declined to 374.23 thousand tonnes in 2020 before recovering to 380.03 thousand tonnes in 2021. Cotton production decreased to 346.28 thousand tonnes in 2022 and remained stable at 346.23 thousand tonnes in 2023. The overall trend highlights Europe’s stable cotton production capacity with moderate fluctuations influenced by agricultural conditions, cultivation patterns, and market dynamics. The dataset provides valuable insights into Europe’s cotton production trends, agricultural performance, and supply chain development. Spain remained a key contributor, with production ranging from 40.50 thousand tonnes in 2023 to 70.07 thousand tonnes in 2019, while remaining European producers collectively contributed between 214.69 thousand tonnes and 321.72 thousand tonnes during the study period. The dataset supports historical analysis, regional benchmarking, market evaluation, and future production forecasting. Farmers, textile manufacturers, policymakers, exporters, investors, researchers, and industry stakeholders can utilize the data to assess production trends, identify investment opportunities, and strengthen agricultural planning. It also supports analysis of Europe’s textile supply chain, sustainable farming practices, productivity improvement, and long-term development opportunities across the cotton and agricultural industries.
- Indicator
- Cotton Production
- Region
- Europe
- Unit
- Thousand Tonnes
- Coverage
- 2015–2023, annual
- Category
- Agriculture
- Last updated
- July 2026
- Source
- Our World in Data
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Frequently asked questions
What is Europe Cotton Production?
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).
What was Europe Cotton Production in 2023?
Europe Cotton Production was 346.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 0% on 2022.
How has Europe Cotton Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Europe Cotton Production moved from 335.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 346.2 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+3.2%), an average of +0.4% a year. The series high was 380 Thousand Tonnes in 2021 and the low 274.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
Which year had the highest and lowest Europe Cotton Production?
The highest value was 380 Thousand Tonnes in 2021 and the lowest was 274.8 Thousand Tonnes in 2016.
What does the Europe Cotton Production data include and exclude?
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.
Where does the Europe Cotton Production data come from?
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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