Lower over the period
UK Wheat Production moved from 16.44 Million Tonnes in 2015 to 11.15 Million Tonnes in 2024 (−32.2%), an average of −4.2% a year. The series high was 16.44 Million Tonnes in 2015 and the low 9.66 Million Tonnes in 2020.
What UK Wheat Production shows
UK Wheat Production was 11.15 Million Tonnes in 2024, down 20.3% on 2023. The United Kingdom's wheat production experienced considerable year-to-year fluctuations between 2015 and 2024, reflecting the influence of changing weather patterns, harvested area, and crop yields. Wheat is one of the country's most important arable crops and is widely cultivated across the England, with smaller production areas in the Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
A 41.3% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2015) and low (2020) is 6.79 Million Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +44.8% in 2021.
Ranks 9 of 27 countries covered
Among the 27 countries in this dataset, UK ranks 9 for 2024, behind China (140.1 Million Tonnes) and India (113.3 Million Tonnes). It accounts for 1.4% of the global total in 2024.
Full series
UK Wheat Production by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Million Tonnes.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Million Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11.15 | −20.3% |
| 2023 | 13.98 | −10% |
| 2022 | 15.54 | +11.1% |
| 2021 | 13.99 | +44.8% |
| 2020 Trough | 9.66 | −40.5% |
| 2019 | 16.23 | +19.7% |
| 2018 | 13.56 | −8.6% |
| 2017 | 14.84 | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 14.38 | −12.5% |
| 2015Peak | 16.44 | — |
Regional context
How UK compares in Europe
Wheat Production by country, 2024, Million Tonnes. UK is highlighted.
1France26.61
2Germany18.53
3UK11.15
4Spain7.15
5Italy6.21
6Denmark3.35
7Sweden2.93
8Finland0.759
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
Wheat Production — Wheat production refers to the total quantity of wheat harvested from agricultural activities within a country or region over a specific period, generally measured in tonnes. This macro indicator represents the annual output of wheat cultivation, reflecting changes in farming practices, cultivated area, crop yields, weather conditions, technological advancements, and agricultural productivity. The indicator tracks the volume of wheat produced globally to evaluate production trends, regional performance, and the overall development of the wheat industry.
Wheat production includes the total harvested output of wheat crops grown for food, animal feed, and industrial uses. It covers all varieties and types of wheat cultivated through commercial farming and agricultural practices, including wheat produced by small-scale farmers and large-scale agricultural operations. The indicator includes annual wheat harvest volumes across different countries and regions, capturing variations caused by changes in cultivation area, yield improvements, irrigation, climate conditions, and advancements in farming technology.
Wheat production excludes processed wheat products such as flour, bakery products, pasta, and other wheat-based food items. It does not include wheat imports, exports, trade volumes, storage inventories, or consumption levels. The indicator also excludes other cereal crops such as rice, maize, barley, and oats, as well as post-harvest processing activities and value-added products derived from wheat. Only the primary agricultural production of harvested wheat is considered within this macro indicator.
About this indicator
Wheat Production — Wheat production refers to the total quantity of wheat harvested from agricultural activities within a country or region over a specific period, generally measured in tonnes. This macro indicator represents the annual output of wheat cultivation, reflecting changes in farming practices, cultivated area, crop yields, weather conditions, technological advancements, and agricultural productivity. The indicator tracks the volume of wheat produced globally to evaluate production trends, regional performance, and the overall development of the wheat industry.
Production stood at approximately 16.44 million tonnes in 2015 before declining to 14.38 million tonnes in 2016. Output recovered slightly to 14.84 million tonnes in 2017 before decreasing further to 13.56 million tonnes in 2018. A strong harvest in 2019 increased production to 16.23 million tonnes, supported by favourable growing conditions and improved yields. However, production dropped sharply to 9.66 million tonnes in 2020, representing the lowest level during the study period, largely due to excessive rainfall, reduced planting, and adverse weather conditions. Production recovered to 13.99 million tonnes in 2021 and 15.54 million tonnes in 2022 before easing to 13.98 million tonnes in 2023 and 11.15 million tonnes in 2024. Despite these fluctuations, the United Kingdom continues to benefit from advanced agricultural practices, modern farm machinery, improved wheat varieties, and strong research and advisory services that support productivity. Sustainable farming initiatives and precision agriculture technologies are increasingly being adopted to improve resource efficiency and climate resilience. Although weather variability remains the primary challenge affecting annual production, the UK's well-developed agricultural sector and continuous investment in innovation are expected to support stable long-term wheat production while meeting domestic demand and contributing to the country's food security objectives.
- Indicator
- Wheat Production
- Country
- UK
- Region
- Europe
- Unit
- Million Tonnes
- Coverage
- 2015–2024, annual
- Category
- Agriculture
- Last updated
- July 2026
- Source
- Our World in Data
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Frequently asked questions
What is UK Wheat Production?
Wheat production refers to the total quantity of wheat harvested from agricultural activities within a country or region over a specific period, generally measured in tonnes. This macro indicator represents the annual output of wheat cultivation, reflecting changes in farming practices, cultivated area, crop yields, weather conditions, technological advancements, and agricultural productivity. The indicator tracks the volume of wheat produced globally to evaluate production trends, regional performance, and the overall development of the wheat industry.
What was UK Wheat Production in 2024?
UK Wheat Production was 11.15 Million Tonnes in 2024, down 20.3% on 2023.
How has UK Wheat Production changed between 2015 and 2024?
UK Wheat Production moved from 16.44 Million Tonnes in 2015 to 11.15 Million Tonnes in 2024 (−32.2%), an average of −4.2% a year. The series high was 16.44 Million Tonnes in 2015 and the low 9.66 Million Tonnes in 2020.
Which year had the highest and lowest UK Wheat Production?
The highest value was 16.44 Million Tonnes in 2015 and the lowest was 9.66 Million Tonnes in 2020.
What does the UK Wheat Production data include and exclude?
Included: Wheat production includes the total harvested output of wheat crops grown for food, animal feed, and industrial uses. It covers all varieties and types of wheat cultivated through commercial farming and agricultural practices, including wheat produced by small-scale farmers and large-scale agricultural operations. The indicator includes annual wheat harvest volumes across different countries and regions, capturing variations caused by changes in cultivation area, yield improvements, irrigation, climate conditions, and advancements in farming technology. Excluded: Wheat production excludes processed wheat products such as flour, bakery products, pasta, and other wheat-based food items. It does not include wheat imports, exports, trade volumes, storage inventories, or consumption levels. The indicator also excludes other cereal crops such as rice, maize, barley, and oats, as well as post-harvest processing activities and value-added products derived from wheat. Only the primary agricultural production of harvested wheat is considered within this macro indicator.
Where does the UK Wheat Production data come from?
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?tab=table&overlay=download-data&Food=Wheat&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Million Tonnes.
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