Reporter

Fayrisya Maliha Riyawati Soehadi Putri

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Consumed by countless citizens in various countries, rice is considered a sought-after commodity. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service reported that in 2023/2024, rice production by country indicates a total of 430 million metric tons, marking the commodity position behind wheat and corn as the third most produced grain. 

According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the largest rice production in the world is dominated by Asian countries. With factors such as climate and geography, these countries are favored to produce at least 12 million metric tons of rice.

Read on to discover the full list of the world’s largest rice production by country. 

7 Rice Production by Country

These seven countries in the list boast a remarkable involvement in global rice production, ranging from 2% to 28% of the participation. The complete list is as follows:

1. China

China is currently the world’s largest rice producer. Over the years, the country has maintained its leading position, reaching 114.6 million tons in 2023/2024, or 28% of the world’s total rice production. 

According to Statista, China’s rice plantation area is measured at approximately 28.95 million hectares, enhanced by the government’s commitment to providing advanced technology, innovation, and in-depth research for agriculture.

2. India

In second place, India accounts for 26% of the world’s rice production. At 137.8 million metric tons, the South Asian country’s total rice crop is still higher than last year’s, despite the heavy rains and flooding the country experienced. India now uses approximately 47.6 million hectares of land for rice production. 

As a key player in the industry, India is benefiting from abundant rainfall and ongoing improvements in agricultural technology. 

3. Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the world’s leading producer of rice, producing approximately 7% of the world’s total rice production, or 37 million tons this year. With its humid, warm climate, rice production is spread over an estimated 10.5 million hectares of land in a unique topography. 

Because rice is a staple food for its population, Bangladesh produced about 10.59 million tons of rice in 1971 when its population was only 70.8 million.

4. Indonesia

Indonesia accounts for 6% of the world’s rice production in 2023/2024, with a total of 33.02 million tons this year. According to a recent report by BPS-Statistics Indonesia, approximately 10.20 million hectares are dedicated to rice cultivation, with East Java leading the way. 

Despite challenges in adopting advanced agricultural technology, Indonesia remains in fourth position in rice production by country.

5. Vietnam

Vietnam is known for its agriculture, especially rice. As the world’s top rice producer, the country contributes about 5% of global production, which is equivalent to 26.3 million tons in 2023/2024. Rice has been a cornerstone of Vietnamese agriculture for millennia, especially in the southern region where vast rice fields dominate the landscape.

6. Thailand

The total volume of rice production in Thailand reached the amount of 20 million tons this year. Accounting for 4% of the world’s harvest, the Southeast Asian country has often faced challenges in production due to unfavorable weather. Statista reported that the northeastern region of Thailand is the main source of the country’s rice production.

7. Philippines

Coming in last, the Philippines still boasts an impressive amount of rice production, which reached 12.33 million metric tons this year. The country’s tropical climate is one of the main factors in the success of its agriculture, contributing to 2% of the world’s production. 

About 4.81 million hectares are reported to be the area where the grain is harvested, although rice is the third most imported agricultural commodity of the Philippines.

USDA | BPS

Published Date: November 22, 2024