Seed cotton production in China
In 2024 China produced 18.7 million t of seed cotton, the largest total in the world (25.7% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 0.9%. The record was 23.5 million t in 2019. Area harvested: 2.8 million ha, yield 6.6 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 18.7 million t
- World rank
- 1 of 83
- 10-year change
- +0.9%
- Record
- 23.5 million t
- 2019
Seed cotton in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
China compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 25.7%
- 24.4% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 6.6
- world 2.4 (+179%)
- kg per person
- 13.2
- world 8.92
- 10-year change
- +0.9%
- world −4.3%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 18,700,000 | 25.7% |
| 2 | India | 15,000,000 | 20.6% |
| 3 | United States | 9,573,295 | 13.1% |
Map of world production of seed cotton
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18,700,000 | +1.1% | 2,838,300 | 6.59 |
| 2023 | 18,500,000 | −6.1% | 2,788,140 | 6.64 |
| 2022 | 19,700,000 | +13% | 3,000,310 | 6.57 |
| 2021 | 17,366,363 | −11% | 3,028,170 | 5.73 |
| 2020 | 19,500,000 | −17% | 3,250,000 | 6.00 |
| 2019 | 23,504,576 | +27% | 3,450,000 | 6.81 |
| 2018 | 18,493,333 | +8.0% | 3,354,410 | 5.51 |
| 2017 | 17,130,303 | +6.9% | 4,845,000 | 3.54 |
| 2016 | 16,029,000 | −4.8% | 3,376,100 | 4.75 |
| 2015 | 16,830,000 | −9.2% | 3,766,870 | 4.47 |
| 2014 | 18,534,950 | −2.1% | 4,222,300 | 4.39 |
| 2013 | 18,930,000 | −7.7% | 4,345,630 | 4.36 |
| 2012 | 20,520,000 | +3.8% | 4,688,130 | 4.38 |
| 2011 | 19,766,876 | +10% | 5,037,800 | 3.92 |
| 2010 | 17,910,000 | −6.4% | 4,849,000 | 3.69 |
| 2009 | 19,131,000 | −15% | 4,951,830 | 3.86 |
| 2008 | 22,476,000 | −1.7% | 5,754,100 | 3.91 |
| 2007 | 22,872,000 | +13% | 5,926,100 | 3.86 |
| 2006 | 20,238,000 | +18% | 5,815,700 | 3.48 |
| 2005 | 17,142,000 | −9.6% | 5,061,900 | 3.39 |
| 2004 | 18,970,530 | +30% | 5,693,000 | 3.33 |
| 2003 | 14,579,127 | −1.1% | 5,111,000 | 2.85 |
| 2002 | 14,748,000 | −7.7% | 4,184,200 | 3.52 |
| 2001 | 15,970,500 | +21% | 4,809,740 | 3.32 |
| 2000 | 13,251,000 | +15% | 4,041,000 | 3.28 |
| 1999 | 11,487,000 | −15% | 3,725,600 | 3.08 |
| 1998 | 13,503,000 | −2.2% | 4,459,210 | 3.03 |
| 1997 | 13,809,000 | +9.5% | 4,491,000 | 3.07 |
| 1996 | 12,609,489 | −12% | 4,722,290 | 2.67 |
| 1995 | 14,304,000 | +9.8% | 5,422,000 | 2.64 |
| 1994 | 13,023,000 | +16% | 5,528,000 | 2.36 |
| 1993 | 11,217,000 | −17% | 4,985,000 | 2.25 |
| 1992 | 13,524,000 | −21% | 6,835,000 | 1.98 |
| 1991 | 17,025,008 | +26% | 6,538,467 | 2.60 |
| 1990 | 13,523,214 | +19% | 5,588,100 | 2.42 |
| 1989 | 11,364,000 | −8.7% | 5,203,300 | 2.18 |
| 1988 | 12,447,000 | −2.3% | 5,529,000 | 2.25 |
| 1987 | 12,735,000 | +20% | 4,844,000 | 2.63 |
| 1986 | 10,620,000 | −15% | 4,306,000 | 2.47 |
| 1985 | 12,441,000 | −34% | 5,140,000 | 2.42 |
| 1984 | 18,774,000 | +35% | 6,916,000 | 2.71 |
| 1983 | 13,911,000 | +29% | 6,071,200 | 2.29 |
| 1982 | 10,794,000 | +21% | 5,823,000 | 1.85 |
| 1981 | 8,904,000 | +9.6% | 5,180,000 | 1.72 |
| 1980 | 8,121,000 | +23% | 4,915,000 | 1.65 |
| 1979 | 6,621,000 | +1.8% | 4,507,000 | 1.47 |
| 1978 | 6,502,000 | +5.8% | 4,862,000 | 1.34 |
| 1977 | 6,148,000 | −0.3% | 4,840,000 | 1.27 |
| 1976 | 6,165,000 | −14% | 4,924,000 | 1.25 |
| 1975 | 7,143,000 | −3.3% | 4,950,000 | 1.44 |
| 1974 | 7,383,000 | −3.9% | 5,008,000 | 1.47 |
| 1973 | 7,686,000 | +31% | 4,937,000 | 1.56 |
| 1972 | 5,874,000 | −7.0% | 4,891,000 | 1.20 |
| 1971 | 6,315,000 | −7.6% | 4,918,000 | 1.28 |
| 1970 | 6,831,000 | +9.5% | 4,992,000 | 1.37 |
| 1969 | 6,237,000 | −12% | 4,824,500 | 1.29 |
| 1968 | 7,062,000 | 0.0% | 4,981,000 | 1.42 |
| 1967 | 7,062,000 | +0.7% | 5,093,000 | 1.39 |
| 1966 | 7,011,000 | +11% | 4,920,000 | 1.43 |
| 1965 | 6,294,000 | +26% | 4,998,000 | 1.26 |
| 1964 | 4,988,100 | +39% | 4,930,000 | 1.01 |
| 1963 | 3,600,000 | +60% | 4,405,000 | 0.82 |
| 1962 | 2,250,000 | −6.3% | 3,494,000 | 0.64 |
| 1961 | 2,400,000 | — | 3,866,000 | 0.62 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of seed cotton in China?
China produced 18.7 million t in 2024, 25.7% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does China rank in the world for production of seed cotton?
China was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of India.
How has the production of seed cotton in China changed?
It rose by 0.9% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.3% for the world. The record was 23.5 million t in 2019.
What is the yield of seed cotton in China?
6.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (18.7 million t from 2.8 million ha), against a world average of 2.4 t/ha.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for China is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.