Seed cotton production in India
In 2024 India produced 15.0 million t of seed cotton, the 2nd largest in the world (20.6% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 19%. The record was 19.2 million t in 2011. Area harvested: 11.4 million ha, yield 1.3 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 15.0 million t
- World rank
- 2 of 83
- 10-year change
- −19%
- Record
- 19.2 million t
- 2011
Seed cotton in India, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
India compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 20.6%
- 24.3% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.3
- world 2.4 (−45%)
- kg per person
- 10.3
- world 8.92
- 10-year change
- −19%
- 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% |
| 4 | Brazil | 8,523,606 | 11.7% |
Map of world production of seed cotton
Share of the world total; India is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15,000,000 | −8.5% | 11,446,846 | 1.31 |
| 2023 | 16,400,000 | +9.3% | 12,687,643 | 1.29 |
| 2022 | 15,000,000 | −13% | 12,926,801 | 1.16 |
| 2021 | 17,204,000 | −3.0% | 13,285,890 | 1.29 |
| 2020 | 17,731,050 | −4.5% | 13,477,000 | 1.32 |
| 2019 | 18,558,000 | +27% | 12,614,000 | 1.47 |
| 2018 | 14,657,000 | −16% | 12,586,000 | 1.16 |
| 2017 | 17,425,000 | +0.7% | 12,430,000 | 1.40 |
| 2016 | 17,308,000 | +8.6% | 10,830,000 | 1.60 |
| 2015 | 15,943,000 | −14% | 11,870,000 | 1.34 |
| 2014 | 18,488,000 | −2.2% | 13,083,000 | 1.41 |
| 2013 | 18,913,000 | +4.0% | 11,690,000 | 1.62 |
| 2012 | 18,179,000 | −5.2% | 11,980,000 | 1.52 |
| 2011 | 19,178,000 | +8.0% | 12,178,000 | 1.57 |
| 2010 | 17,760,000 | +39% | 11,142,000 | 1.59 |
| 2009 | 12,761,000 | +7.8% | 10,310,000 | 1.24 |
| 2008 | 11,834,000 | −14% | 9,410,000 | 1.26 |
| 2007 | 13,751,000 | +14% | 9,410,000 | 1.46 |
| 2006 | 12,023,000 | +22% | 9,142,000 | 1.32 |
| 2005 | 9,828,000 | +13% | 8,677,100 | 1.13 |
| 2004 | 8,728,000 | +20% | 8,786,600 | 0.99 |
| 2003 | 7,294,000 | +59% | 7,597,900 | 0.96 |
| 2002 | 4,582,000 | −14% | 7,669,700 | 0.60 |
| 2001 | 5,311,000 | +3.6% | 9,100,000 | 0.58 |
| 2000 | 5,128,000 | −16% | 8,576,500 | 0.60 |
| 1999 | 6,125,000 | −6.2% | 8,709,700 | 0.70 |
| 1998 | 6,528,000 | +13% | 9,342,400 | 0.70 |
| 1997 | 5,765,000 | −24% | 8,868,000 | 0.65 |
| 1996 | 7,560,000 | +11% | 9,121,000 | 0.83 |
| 1995 | 6,832,000 | +8.2% | 9,035,000 | 0.76 |
| 1994 | 6,316,000 | +11% | 7,871,000 | 0.80 |
| 1993 | 5,706,000 | −5.8% | 7,321,000 | 0.78 |
| 1992 | 6,058,000 | +17% | 7,542,000 | 0.80 |
| 1991 | 5,161,000 | −1.3% | 7,661,400 | 0.67 |
| 1990 | 5,228,000 | −14% | 7,439,600 | 0.70 |
| 1989 | 6,067,000 | +31% | 7,694,800 | 0.79 |
| 1988 | 4,645,000 | +37% | 7,342,600 | 0.63 |
| 1987 | 3,390,000 | −7.6% | 6,459,300 | 0.52 |
| 1986 | 3,668,000 | −21% | 6,948,000 | 0.53 |
| 1985 | 4,636,000 | +2.6% | 7,532,700 | 0.62 |
| 1984 | 4,519,000 | +33% | 7,382,100 | 0.61 |
| 1983 | 3,393,000 | −15% | 7,721,000 | 0.44 |
| 1982 | 4,000,000 | −4.4% | 7,870,700 | 0.51 |
| 1981 | 4,186,000 | +3.7% | 8,057,400 | 0.52 |
| 1980 | 4,038,000 | −1.3% | 7,820,000 | 0.52 |
| 1979 | 4,091,000 | −3.2% | 8,077,000 | 0.51 |
| 1978 | 4,228,000 | +9.8% | 8,120,000 | 0.52 |
| 1977 | 3,850,000 | +15% | 7,866,000 | 0.49 |
| 1976 | 3,353,000 | −7.5% | 6,885,000 | 0.49 |
| 1975 | 3,625,000 | −10% | 7,458,000 | 0.49 |
| 1974 | 4,031,000 | +7.6% | 7,559,000 | 0.53 |
| 1973 | 3,747,000 | +3.0% | 7,574,000 | 0.49 |
| 1972 | 3,638,000 | −7.5% | 7,679,000 | 0.47 |
| 1971 | 3,931,000 | +32% | 7,800,000 | 0.50 |
| 1970 | 2,981,000 | −9.3% | 7,608,000 | 0.39 |
| 1969 | 3,288,000 | −0.9% | 7,712,000 | 0.43 |
| 1968 | 3,319,000 | −7.6% | 7,649,000 | 0.43 |
| 1967 | 3,591,000 | +15% | 8,215,000 | 0.44 |
| 1966 | 3,116,000 | 0.0% | 7,834,000 | 0.40 |
| 1965 | 3,116,000 | −6.5% | 7,943,000 | 0.39 |
| 1964 | 3,334,000 | −6.2% | 8,268,000 | 0.40 |
| 1963 | 3,556,000 | +6.1% | 8,160,000 | 0.44 |
| 1962 | 3,353,000 | +21% | 7,845,000 | 0.43 |
| 1961 | 2,763,000 | — | 7,719,000 | 0.36 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of seed cotton in India?
India produced 15.0 million t in 2024, 20.6% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does India rank in the world for production of seed cotton?
India ranked 2nd of 83 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 25.7% of the world total.
How has the production of seed cotton in India changed?
It fell by 19% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.3% for the world. The record was 19.2 million t in 2011.
What is the yield of seed cotton in India?
1.3 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (15.0 million t from 11.4 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 India 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.