Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes.
Global Tobacco Production was 6,048 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, up 0.9% on 2023. Global tobacco production showed a dynamic yet relatively stable pattern between 2015 and 2024, reflecting changes in agricultural practices, climatic conditions, government policies, and international market demand. Global production stood at 6.71 million tonnes in 2015 before declining to 6.24 million tonnes in 2016.
Global Tobacco Production moved from 6,713 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 6,048 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (−9.9%), an average of −1.2% a year. The series high was 6,713 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the low 5,696 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
The gap between the series high (2015) and low (2022) is 1,018 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −10.7% in 2020.
Of the 31 countries in this dataset, China, India and Brazil have the highest values in 2024 (2,256, 727.2, 637.7 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 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 2,256 | −1.8% | |
| 2 | India | 727.2 | 0% | |
| 3 | Brazil | 637.7 | −6.4% | |
| 4 | Indonesia | 353.4 | +23.3% | |
| 5 | Zimbabwe | 236.8 | +21.6% | |
| 6 | Pakistan | 185 | +21.8% | |
| 7 | U.S. | 147.5 | −24.1% | |
| 8 | Malawi | 120 | −0.1% | |
| 9 | Tanzania | 117.5 | −4.4% | |
| 10 | Turkey | 108 | +26.3% | |
| 11 | Argentina | 80.79 | −7.6% | |
| 12 | Thailand | 66.29 | −0.2% | |
| 13 | Philippines | 55.35 | +2.7% | |
| 14 | Vietnam | 48.31 | +24.9% | |
| 15 | Italy | 33.90 | +16.9% | |
| 16 | South Korea | 27.95 | −0.2% | |
| 17 | Canada | 27.78 | 0% | |
| 18 | Zambia | 20.77 | −36% | |
| 19 | Spain | 19.41 | +56.8% | |
| 20 | Mexico | 18.58 | +1.9% | |
| 21 | South Africa | 11.23 | +18% | |
| 22 | Greece | 10.21 | −15.3% | |
| 23 | Japan | 8.34 | −4.4% | |
| 24 | Nigeria | 5.58 | +0.2% | |
| 25 | Colombia | 3.31 | −19.1% | |
| 26 | Chile | 3.03 | +76.4% | |
| 27 | France | 2.65 | −9.2% | |
| 28 | Taiwan | 1.39 | +0.2% | |
| 29 | UAE | 0.229 | −3.7% | |
| 30 | Malaysia | 0.0800 | −27.3% | |
| 31 | Israel | 0.00447 | +0.4% |
By region
Thousand Tonnes, 2024. Each bar is that region's total.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,048 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 5,993 | +5.2% |
| 2022 Trough | 5,696 | −2.5% |
| 2021 | 5,843 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 5,802 | −10.7% |
| 2019 | 6,499 | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 6,046 | −3.5% |
| 2017 | 6,268 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 6,239 | −7.1% |
| 2015Peak | 6,713 | — |
Data definition
Tobacco Production — Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
Tobacco production includes the annual harvested quantity of raw tobacco leaves from commercially cultivated tobacco plants. It covers major tobacco varieties such as flue-cured, burley, oriental, and other types grown by small-scale farmers and large agricultural producers. The indicator includes tobacco crops produced within national boundaries for use in the manufacturing of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and other processed tobacco products. It accounts for agricultural activities related to cultivation, harvesting, and primary crop output measured in tonnes.
Tobacco production excludes processed tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and other finished tobacco goods. It does not include tobacco manufacturing, packaging, distribution, retail sales, consumption, imports, or exports of tobacco products. The indicator also excludes synthetic nicotine products, non-tobacco nicotine alternatives, experimental tobacco cultivation, and broader economic measures such as tobacco industry revenue, employment, market value, or trade statistics.
Tobacco Production — Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
Production remained close to 6.27 million tonnes in 2017 but eased further to 6.05 million tonnes in 2018. A temporary recovery occurred in 2019, when output increased to 6.50 million tonnes, supported by favorable weather conditions and stronger harvests in several leading tobacco-producing countries. However, production declined again to 5.80 million tonnes in 2020, largely reflecting weather-related challenges, supply chain disruptions, and adjustments in cultivation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global output recovered modestly to 5.84 million tonnes in 2021, followed by a slight decline to 5.70 million tonnes in 2022, the lowest level during the observed period. Production improved once more to 5.99 million tonnes in 2023 and reached approximately 6.05 million tonnes in 2024, indicating renewed stability in global tobacco cultivation. Throughout the decade, Asia remained the dominant producing region, accounting for the largest share of worldwide tobacco output, while significant contributions also came from South America and Africa. Advances in farming techniques, improved seed varieties, irrigation systems, and farm management practices helped sustain production despite changing climatic conditions. At the same time, environmental concerns, labor availability, shifting crop economics, and stricter tobacco control regulations influenced cultivation decisions in several countries. Overall, the 2015–2024 period highlights the resilience of the global tobacco sector, with production fluctuating in response to weather, market demand, and policy developments while maintaining a consistent supply of raw tobacco for the international processing and manufacturing industry.
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Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
Global Tobacco Production was 6,048 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, up 0.9% on 2023.
Global Tobacco Production moved from 6,713 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 6,048 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (−9.9%), an average of −1.2% a year. The series high was 6,713 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the low 5,696 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
The highest value was 6,713 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 and the lowest was 5,696 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
Included: Tobacco production includes the annual harvested quantity of raw tobacco leaves from commercially cultivated tobacco plants. It covers major tobacco varieties such as flue-cured, burley, oriental, and other types grown by small-scale farmers and large agricultural producers. The indicator includes tobacco crops produced within national boundaries for use in the manufacturing of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and other processed tobacco products. It accounts for agricultural activities related to cultivation, harvesting, and primary crop output measured in tonnes. Excluded: Tobacco production excludes processed tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and other finished tobacco goods. It does not include tobacco manufacturing, packaging, distribution, retail sales, consumption, imports, or exports of tobacco products. The indicator also excludes synthetic nicotine products, non-tobacco nicotine alternatives, experimental tobacco cultivation, and broader economic measures such as tobacco industry revenue, employment, market value, or trade statistics.
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?tab=table&Food=Tobacco&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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