Seed cotton production in United States
In 2024 United States produced 9.6 million t of seed cotton, the 3rd largest in the world (13.1% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 2.2%. The record was 12.9 million t in 2005. Area harvested: 3.3 million ha, yield 2.9 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 9.6 million t
- World rank
- 3 of 83
- 10-year change
- −2.2%
- Record
- 12.9 million t
- 2005
Seed cotton in United States, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
United States compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 13.1%
- 12.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.9
- world 2.4 (+21%)
- kg per person
- 27.7
- world 8.92
- 10-year change
- −2.2%
- 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% |
| 5 | Pakistan | 3,500,618 | 4.8% |
Map of world production of seed cotton
Share of the world total; United States is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9,573,295 | +18% | 3,347,270 | 2.86 |
| 2023 | 8,094,429 | −2.1% | 2,858,970 | 2.83 |
| 2022 | 8,267,307 | −28% | 2,950,030 | 2.80 |
| 2021 | 11,536,842 | +26% | 4,153,410 | 2.78 |
| 2020 | 9,190,020 | −28% | 3,348,610 | 2.74 |
| 2019 | 12,748,779 | +15% | 4,699,460 | 2.71 |
| 2018 | 11,098,490 | −7.5% | 4,130,190 | 2.69 |
| 2017 | 12,000,000 | +19% | 4,492,220 | 2.67 |
| 2016 | 10,083,328 | +19% | 3,847,710 | 2.62 |
| 2015 | 8,469,158 | −14% | 3,267,830 | 2.59 |
| 2014 | 9,791,640 | +28% | 3,782,560 | 2.59 |
| 2013 | 7,625,804 | −26% | 3,053,140 | 2.50 |
| 2012 | 10,280,230 | +5.5% | 3,772,440 | 2.73 |
| 2011 | 9,743,176 | +2.8% | 3,828,730 | 2.54 |
| 2010 | 9,473,800 | +48% | 4,329,660 | 2.19 |
| 2009 | 6,417,250 | −4.1% | 3,046,790 | 2.11 |
| 2008 | 6,691,370 | −34% | 3,062,980 | 2.18 |
| 2007 | 10,158,983 | −13% | 4,244,830 | 2.39 |
| 2006 | 11,654,560 | −9.5% | 5,152,640 | 2.26 |
| 2005 | 12,876,180 | +2.7% | 5,585,770 | 2.31 |
| 2004 | 12,539,350 | +25% | 5,284,040 | 2.37 |
| 2003 | 10,020,620 | +7.1% | 4,857,660 | 2.06 |
| 2002 | 9,356,670 | −16% | 5,025,000 | 1.86 |
| 2001 | 11,180,979 | +17% | 5,596,000 | 2.00 |
| 2000 | 9,580,630 | +1.3% | 5,282,000 | 1.81 |
| 1999 | 9,458,000 | +20% | 5,432,900 | 1.74 |
| 1998 | 7,897,000 | −24% | 4,323,550 | 1.83 |
| 1997 | 10,381,700 | −2.1% | 5,425,000 | 1.91 |
| 1996 | 10,604,000 | +4.9% | 5,125,550 | 2.07 |
| 1995 | 10,110,000 | −9.6% | 6,478,000 | 1.56 |
| 1994 | 11,179,000 | +21% | 5,391,400 | 2.07 |
| 1993 | 9,266,000 | +0.9% | 5,173,000 | 1.79 |
| 1992 | 9,183,000 | −9.2% | 4,510,000 | 2.04 |
| 1991 | 10,118,000 | +15% | 5,245,000 | 1.93 |
| 1990 | 8,789,500 | +27% | 4,748,000 | 1.85 |
| 1989 | 6,898,000 | −22% | 3,860,600 | 1.79 |
| 1988 | 8,854,000 | +4.8% | 4,835,000 | 1.83 |
| 1987 | 8,447,700 | +52% | 4,059,000 | 2.08 |
| 1986 | 5,567,000 | −28% | 3,427,000 | 1.62 |
| 1985 | 7,713,000 | +2.9% | 4,139,600 | 1.86 |
| 1984 | 7,497,500 | +67% | 4,200,000 | 1.79 |
| 1983 | 4,482,500 | −35% | 2,973,460 | 1.51 |
| 1982 | 6,908,180 | −25% | 3,939,100 | 1.75 |
| 1981 | 9,209,692 | +42% | 5,601,300 | 1.64 |
| 1980 | 6,477,559 | −23% | 5,347,800 | 1.21 |
| 1979 | 8,427,096 | +35% | 5,192,408 | 1.62 |
| 1978 | 6,236,493 | −23% | 5,018,030 | 1.24 |
| 1977 | 8,141,767 | +35% | 5,372,248 | 1.52 |
| 1976 | 6,043,038 | +28% | 4,416,475 | 1.37 |
| 1975 | 4,726,756 | −28% | 3,559,565 | 1.33 |
| 1974 | 6,603,817 | −10% | 5,077,358 | 1.30 |
| 1973 | 7,375,156 | −6.4% | 4,844,020 | 1.52 |
| 1972 | 7,876,157 | +29% | 5,254,365 | 1.50 |
| 1971 | 6,127,556 | +3.7% | 4,642,084 | 1.32 |
| 1970 | 5,909,491 | +0.8% | 4,514,205 | 1.31 |
| 1969 | 5,865,349 | −11% | 4,472,159 | 1.31 |
| 1968 | 6,587,636 | +45% | 4,111,549 | 1.60 |
| 1967 | 4,532,607 | −20% | 3,236,226 | 1.40 |
| 1966 | 5,672,745 | −35% | 3,865,503 | 1.47 |
| 1965 | 8,777,194 | −2.0% | 5,508,787 | 1.59 |
| 1964 | 8,955,408 | +0.1% | 5,688,000 | 1.57 |
| 1963 | 8,946,873 | +1.7% | 5,751,000 | 1.56 |
| 1962 | 8,797,196 | +3.1% | 6,300,462 | 1.40 |
| 1961 | 8,532,754 | — | 6,327,000 | 1.35 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of seed cotton in United States?
United States produced 9.6 million t in 2024, 13.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does United States rank in the world for production of seed cotton?
United States ranked 3rd 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 United States changed?
It fell by 2.2% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.3% for the world. The record was 12.9 million t in 2005.
What is the yield of seed cotton in United States?
2.9 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (9.6 million t from 3.3 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 United States is imputed 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.