Which Country Produces the Most Cotton Lint?

Based on a comparison of 83 countries in 2021, India ranked the highest in cotton lint production with 5,992 kt followed by China and USA. On the other end of the scale was Iraq with 0.001 kt, El Salvador with 0.007 kt and Philippines with 0.027 kt.

Total cotton lint production reached 25,416 kt in 2021 in the World according to Faostat. This is 3.42 % more than in the previous year and -4.05 % less than 10 years ago.

Historically, total cotton lint production reached an all time high of 26,566 kt in 2012 and an all time low of 9,462 kt in 1961. The average annual growth amounted to 1.66 % since 1961.

The top ranked country, India, accounted for 23.6 % of cotton lint production in the world. The top 3 countries hold a 61.1 % share while the ten largest countries some 87.5 % in 2021.

Data for more countries are available at Cotton Lint Production indicator page.