– Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes.
Global Cheese Production was 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.4% on 2022. Global Cheese Production was 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.4% on 2022. Global Cheese Production moved from 24,092 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+13.5%), an average of +1.6% a year.
Global Cheese Production moved from 24,092 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+13.5%), an average of +1.6% a year. The series high was 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 24,092 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 3,256 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +2.8% in 2020.
Of the 30 countries in this dataset, U.S., Germany and France have the highest values in 2023 (6,628, 3,042, 2,216 Thousand Tonnes respectively).
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 | U.S. | 6,628 | +0.5% | |
| 2 | Germany | 3,042 | +0.6% | |
| 3 | France | 2,216 | −0.4% | |
| 4 | Italy | 1,344 | −1.1% | |
| 5 | Poland | 1,064 | +5.3% | |
| 6 | Netherlands | 1,019 | +4.7% | |
| 7 | Turkey | 830.2 | +9% | |
| 8 | Egypt | 765.7 | −8.6% | |
| 9 | Canada | 599.9 | −0.2% | |
| 10 | Spain | 535.9 | −0.7% | |
| 11 | UK | 509.9 | −0.4% | |
| 12 | Denmark | 496.7 | +6.5% | |
| 13 | Argentina | 477.4 | +3.7% | |
| 14 | New Zealand | 375 | 0% | |
| 15 | Australia | 374.8 | −12.1% | |
| 16 | China | 232.5 | +3% | |
| 17 | Switzerland | 216.4 | −1.5% | |
| 18 | Mexico | 193.3 | +1.6% | |
| 19 | Israel | 151.7 | 0% | |
| 20 | Japan | 151.4 | −7.9% | |
| 21 | Saudi Arabia | 145.4 | +17.5% | |
| 22 | Chile | 112.1 | +3.2% | |
| 23 | Finland | 84.72 | +2.9% | |
| 24 | Sweden | 79.44 | +1.2% | |
| 25 | Brazil | 74.67 | +5.5% | |
| 26 | Colombia | 66.51 | −1.5% | |
| 27 | South Africa | 62.30 | +3.2% | |
| 28 | India | 21.38 | +26.7% | |
| 29 | Nigeria | 9.56 | +0.3% | |
| 30 | Thailand | 2.46 | −24.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 27,348 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 27,239 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 26,894 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 26,159 | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 25,437 | +2% |
| 2018 | 24,932 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 24,809 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 24,369 | +1.1% |
| 2015 Trough | 24,092 | — |
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).
The series high was 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 24,092 Thousand Tonnes in 2015. The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 3,256 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +2.8% in 2020. Of the 30 countries in this dataset, U.S., Germany and France have the highest values in 2023 (6,628, 3,042, 2,216 Thousand Tonnes respectively).
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).
Global Cheese Production was 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.4% on 2022.
Global Cheese Production moved from 24,092 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+13.5%), an average of +1.6% a year. The series high was 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 24,092 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The highest value was 27,348 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 24,092 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.
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