– Cheese Production refers to the total quantity of cheese produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes.
U.S. Cheese Production was 6,628 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.5% on 2022. The U.S. Cheese Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's cheese manufacturing performance and the development of its dairy industry between 2015 and 2023.
U.S. Cheese Production moved from 5,754 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 6,628 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+15.2%), an average of +1.8% a year. The series high was 6,628 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 5,754 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 874.1 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +3.6% in 2017.
Among the 30 countries in this dataset, U.S. ranks 1 for 2023. It accounts for 24.2% of the global total in 2023.
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 | 6,628 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 6,598 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 6,442 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 6,217 | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 6,161 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 6,109 | −0.4% |
| 2017 | 6,135 | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 5,919 | +2.9% |
| 2015 Trough | 5,754 | — |
Regional context
Cheese Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. U.S. is highlighted.
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).
Measured in Million Tonnes, the dataset serves as a valuable benchmark for evaluating dairy processing capacity, agricultural productivity, milk utilization, food manufacturing, supply chain efficiency, and market demand. It also supports analysis of the cheese sector's contribution to the broader U.S. dairy industry and agricultural economy. Based on the validated data, U.S. cheese production demonstrated a generally upward trend throughout the period. Production increased from 5.75 million tonnes in 2015 to 5.92 million tonnes in 2016 and 6.13 million tonnes in 2017, reflecting expanding dairy processing capacity. Output eased slightly to 6.11 million tonnes in 2018 before recovering to 6.16 million tonnes in 2019 and 6.22 million tonnes in 2020. Production continued to rise steadily thereafter, reaching 6.44 million tonnes in 2021, 6.60 million tonnes in 2022, and a series high of 6.63 million tonnes in 2023. The sustained long-term growth highlights the resilience of the U.S. dairy sector, supported by efficient milk production, technological advancements in cheese manufacturing, and consistent domestic and export demand. Overall, the dataset offers valuable insights into production trends, industry performance, and the long-term development of the U.S. cheese sector. 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 use the dataset to monitor production performance, identify market opportunities, forecast future cheese output, evaluate industry competitiveness, and develop evidence-based strategies that enhance productivity, strengthen supply chain resilience, encourage innovation, support sustainable dairy production, and promote long-term growth within the U.S. dairy industry.
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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).
U.S. Cheese Production was 6,628 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 0.5% on 2022.
U.S. Cheese Production moved from 5,754 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 6,628 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+15.2%), an average of +1.8% a year. The series high was 6,628 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 5,754 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The highest value was 6,628 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 5,754 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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