Broadly stable
Germany Cheese Production moved from 3,082 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 3,042 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−1.3%), an average of −0.2% a year. The series high was 3,170 Thousand Tonnes in 2020 and the low 3,009 Thousand Tonnes in 2017.
What Germany Cheese Production shows
Germany Cheese Production was 3,042 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.6% on 2022. The Germany Cheese Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's cheese manufacturing performance and the evolution of its dairy processing industry between 2015 and 2023.
A 5.1% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2020) and low (2017) is 161.8 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −3.7% in 2021.
Ranks 2 of 30 countries covered
Among the 30 countries in this dataset, Germany ranks 2 for 2023, behind U.S. (6,628 Thousand Tonnes) and France (2,216 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 11.1% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Germany Cheese 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,042 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 3,023 | −1% |
| 2021 | 3,052 | −3.7% |
| 2020Peak | 3,171 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 3,121 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 3,043 | +1.1% |
| 2017 Trough | 3,009 | −1.4% |
| 2016 | 3,050 | −1% |
| 2015 | 3,082 | — |
Regional context
How Germany compares in Europe
Cheese Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Germany is highlighted.
1Germany3,042
2France2,216
3Italy1,344
4Poland1,064
5Netherlands1,019
6Spain535.9
7UK509.9
8Denmark496.7
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
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.
About this indicator
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).
Measured in Million Tonnes, the dataset serves as an important benchmark for evaluating dairy sector productivity, milk utilization, food manufacturing capacity, agricultural output, and the competitiveness of Germany's dairy industry. It also supports analysis of production stability, supply chain efficiency, and long-term developments in cheese manufacturing. Based on the validated data, Germany's cheese production remained relatively stable throughout the study period with moderate year-to-year fluctuations. Production stood at 3.08 million tonnes in 2015 before easing to 3.05 million tonnes in 2016 and 3.01 million tonnes in 2017. Output recovered to 3.04 million tonnes in 2018 and increased further to 3.12 million tonnes in 2019, reaching a period high of 3.17 million tonnes in 2020. Production then moderated to 3.05 million tonnes in 2021, declined slightly to 3.02 million tonnes in 2022, and recovered marginally to 3.04 million tonnes in 2023. The overall trend indicates a mature and well-established dairy industry characterized by stable production levels and efficient processing capacity rather than rapid output expansion. Overall, the dataset provides valuable insights into Germany's cheese production trends, manufacturing performance, and long-term dairy sector development. It enables year-over-year trend analysis, international benchmarking of cheese production, evaluation of processing efficiency, and assessment of agricultural value addition across the dairy supply chain. Policymakers, dairy producers, processors, exporters, investors, market analysts, and researchers can utilize the dataset to monitor production performance, evaluate industry competitiveness, forecast future cheese output, identify market opportunities, strengthen supply chain resilience, encourage technological innovation, support sustainable dairy production, and promote long-term growth across Germany's dairy industry.
- Indicator
- Cheese Production
- Country
- Germany
- 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 Germany Cheese Production?
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).
What was Germany Cheese Production in 2023?
Germany Cheese Production was 3,042 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.6% on 2022.
How has Germany Cheese Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Germany Cheese Production moved from 3,082 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 3,042 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−1.3%), an average of −0.2% a year. The series high was 3,170 Thousand Tonnes in 2020 and the low 3,009 Thousand Tonnes in 2017.
Which year had the highest and lowest Germany Cheese Production?
The highest value was 3,170 Thousand Tonnes in 2020 and the lowest was 3,009 Thousand Tonnes in 2017.
What does the Germany Cheese Production data include and exclude?
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.
Where does the Germany Cheese Production data come from?
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.
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