– Cotton Production refers to the total quantity of cotton lint produced from harvested cotton crops within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes.
U.S. Cotton Production was 2,627 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 16.6% on 2022. The U.S. Cotton Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of the country’s cotton production performance and agricultural output trends between 2015 and 2023.
U.S. Cotton Production moved from 2,806 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 2,627 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−6.4%), an average of −0.8% a year. The series high was 4,555 Thousand Tonnes in 2017 and the low 2,627 Thousand Tonnes in 2023.
The gap between the series high (2017) and low (2023) is 1,928 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +33.2% in 2016.
Among the 21 countries in this dataset, U.S. ranks 4 for 2023, behind China (5,618 Thousand Tonnes) and India (5,529 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 10.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Trough | 2,627 | −16.6% |
| 2022 | 3,150 | −17.4% |
| 2021 | 3,815 | +20% |
| 2020 | 3,180 | −26.6% |
| 2019 | 4,335 | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 4,004 | −12.1% |
| 2017Peak | 4,555 | +21.9% |
| 2016 | 3,738 | +33.2% |
| 2015 | 2,806 | — |
Regional context
Cotton Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. U.S. is highlighted.
Data definition
Cotton Production — – Cotton Production refers to the total quantity of cotton lint produced from harvested cotton crops within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of cotton cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of cotton farming to the textile and agricultural sectors. It is used to assess global cotton supply, production capacity, and the availability of raw materials for textile manufacturing. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The data includes annual production of cotton lint obtained from harvested cotton plants and recorded as primary agricultural output. It covers cotton produced for textile manufacturing, yarn production, industrial processing, and export markets. The figures represent harvested cotton quantities collected from official agricultural statistics and standardized by the FAO to enable international comparison across countries and years.
The data excludes cotton fiber processing, yarn, fabrics, garments, and other finished textile products. It also excludes cottonseed production, cottonseed oil, cotton imports and exports, cultivated land area, cotton yield per hectare, and inventory changes. Post-harvest losses, informal or unrecorded cotton production not captured in official agricultural statistics, and synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and other non-cotton textile materials are also excluded from this indicator.
Cotton Production — – Cotton Production refers to the total quantity of cotton lint produced from harvested cotton crops within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of cotton cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of cotton farming to the textile and agricultural sectors. It is used to assess global cotton supply, production capacity, and the availability of raw materials for textile manufacturing. 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 cotton cultivation capacity, agricultural productivity, crop output, farming efficiency, supply availability, and the overall development of the U.S. cotton industry. Based on the validated data, U.S. cotton production experienced noticeable fluctuations throughout the study period, reflecting variations in climatic conditions, cultivation patterns, and agricultural market dynamics. Production increased from 2.81 million tonnes in 2015 to 3.74 million tonnes in 2016, followed by further growth to 4.56 million tonnes in 2017, representing the highest production level recorded during the period. Output declined to 4.00 million tonnes in 2018 before recovering to 4.34 million tonnes in 2019. Production decreased significantly to 3.18 million tonnes in 2020, followed by a recovery to 3.82 million tonnes in 2021. Output declined again to 3.15 million tonnes in 2022 and reached 2.63 million tonnes in 2023, the lowest level during the study period. The overall trend highlights annual production variability while demonstrating the continued importance and resilience of the U.S. cotton sector.
The dataset provides valuable insights into U.S. cotton production trends, agricultural performance, and supply dynamics. It supports year-over-year analysis, production benchmarking, market evaluation, and future output forecasting. Farmers, policymakers, textile manufacturers, exporters, investors, researchers, and industry analysts can utilize the dataset to assess production capacity, monitor supply trends, optimize cultivation strategies, evaluate investment opportunities, and strengthen cotton value chain planning. The information also supports sustainable agricultural development, resource management, and innovation across the U.S. cotton production ecosystem.
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Definition – Cotton Production refers to the total quantity of cotton lint produced from harvested cotton crops within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of cotton cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of cotton farming to the textile and agricultural sectors. It is used to assess global cotton supply, production capacity, and the availability of raw materials for textile manufacturing. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
U.S. Cotton Production was 2,627 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, down 16.6% on 2022.
U.S. Cotton Production moved from 2,806 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 2,627 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (−6.4%), an average of −0.8% a year. The series high was 4,555 Thousand Tonnes in 2017 and the low 2,627 Thousand Tonnes in 2023.
The highest value was 4,555 Thousand Tonnes in 2017 and the lowest was 2,627 Thousand Tonnes in 2023.
Included: The data includes annual production of cotton lint obtained from harvested cotton plants and recorded as primary agricultural output. It covers cotton produced for textile manufacturing, yarn production, industrial processing, and export markets. The figures represent harvested cotton quantities collected from official agricultural statistics and standardized by the FAO to enable international comparison across countries and years. Excluded: The data excludes cotton fiber processing, yarn, fabrics, garments, and other finished textile products. It also excludes cottonseed production, cottonseed oil, cotton imports and exports, cultivated land area, cotton yield per hectare, and inventory changes. Post-harvest losses, informal or unrecorded cotton production not captured in official agricultural statistics, and synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and other non-cotton textile materials are also excluded from this indicator.
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?time=latest&overlay=download-data&Food=Cotton&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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