Silk Production per Capitaby Country

Silk Production per Capita — Global Silk Production per Capita refers to the annual quantity of silk produced worldwide divided by the total global population, measured on a per-person basis. This indicator represents the average amount of silk production available per individual globally during a specific year. It is used to analyse long-term trends in silk production, compare production intensity across regions, and understand the role of sericulture within the global agricultural sector. The data provides a time-series view of changes in global silk production per person from 2015 to 2023, reflecting variations in production levels, population growth, and changes in the international silk industry. Inclusions: The data includes annual global silk production quantities generated through sericulture activities, including silk obtained from silkworm cultivation and related agricultural production processes. It covers worldwide production estimates aggregated from individual country-level data and adjusted according to global population figures to calculate per capita values. The indicator includes historical production trends, regional contributions, and changes influenced by agricultural practices, technological improvements, availability of mulberry cultivation, rural employment activities, and developments in traditional silk-producing regions. It supports analysis of global production patterns and the changing importance of silk as an agricultural commodity. Exclusions: The data excludes processed silk products such as silk fabrics, garments, textiles, and other manufactured silk-based goods. It does not measure global silk consumption, international trade values, imports, exports, market prices, or economic contributions from the textile and fashion industries. The indicator does not capture production efficiency, silk quality differences, environmental impacts, or income generated from silk production activities. It represents only the average quantity of silk produced per person globally and may be affected by differences in country reporting methods, population estimates, production measurement techniques, and data availability across regions.

This reduction reflects changes in production patterns, agricultural priorities, market conditions, and structural transformations within the global silk sector.

Between 2015 and 2023, global silk production per capita experienced a continuous decline, falling from 27.39 grams in 2015 to 10.74 grams in 2021, which represented the lowest value during the period. A slight recovery was observed in 2022 and 2023, with production increasing to 11.42 grams and 11.62 grams per capita respectively. Despite this improvement, global production levels remained below those recorded at the beginning of the period, indicating a long-term reduction in average silk output per person.

The global silk industry is primarily supported by major producing countries, particularly in Asia, where countries such as China, India, and Vietnam contribute significantly to worldwide silk production. Other regions, including Europe, Africa, and South America, also contribute through specialised and traditional silk production activities. Sericulture continues to provide employment opportunities for rural communities and supports agricultural diversification.

Several factors influence global silk production trends, including changing consumer preferences, competition from synthetic fibres, rising production costs, climate-related challenges, technological adoption, and shifts in agricultural land use. These factors have affected production capacity and the overall supply structure of the silk industry.

The 2015–2023 global silk production per capita data provides valuable insights into worldwide agricultural trends, production changes, and the role of silk as a traditional agricultural commodity. Analysing these trends helps understand the sustainability, challenges, and future opportunities of the global silk production sector.