Rice is a crucial food for billions of people, especially in Asia and Africa. In 2024, China stands as the top rice producer. With its favorable climate, large farms, and advanced methods, China grows vast amounts of rice, helping to feed its population and export to other countries.
In 2024, global rice production is expected to reach between 527.6 and 530.4 million metric tons, marking a 1–2% increase from last year. This growth reflects efforts by leading rice-producing countries to meet rising demand, ensuring a stable rice supply worldwide.
China is the world’s top producer of rice. This crop plays a crucial role in Chinese life and culture, feeding millions of people every day. Let’s explore how China became the largest rice-producing country, the challenges it faces, and how it plans to keep rice production strong for the future.
China has been growing rice for thousands of years, making it one of the oldest rice-farming countries in the world. In 2023/2024, China produced an impressive 144.62 million metric tons of milled rice, which is the most of any country globally. Rice is essential to Chinese cuisine, and about 65% of China’s population relies on it as a staple food.
Most of China’s rice comes from provinces near the Yangtze River, like Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan. These areas are known for their fertile soil and access to water, making them perfect for rice farming. Many farmers in these regions use traditional methods, passed down through generations, to grow rice.
China, with the total annual rice production of 144.62 million metric tons, stands as the largest rice producing countries in the world 2024, followed by India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Here is the list of top-10 largest rice producing countries in the world 2024:
| Top-10 Largest Rice Producing Countries in the World 2024 | ||||
| Rank | Country | % of Global Production | Total Rice Production (in metric tons) | |
| 1. | China | 28% | 144.62 million | |
| 2. | India | 26% | 137.83 million | |
| 3. | Bangladesh | 7% | 37 million | |
| 4. | Indonesia | 6% | 33.02 million | |
| 5. | Vietnam | 5% | 26.63 million | |
| 6. | Thailand | 4% | 20 million | |
| 7. | Philippines | 2% | 12.33 million | |
| 8. | Burma | 2% | 11.9 million | |
| 9. | Pakistan | 2% | 9.87 million | |
| 10. | Japan | 1% | 7.3 million | |
China, with the total annual rice production of 144.62 million metric tons, stands as the largest rice producing countries in the world 2024.
In 2024, global rice production is expected to reach between 527.6 and 530.4 million metric tons, marking a 1–2% increase from last year.
The top-5 rice producing countries in the world are: China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Most of China’s rice comes from provinces near the Yangtze River, like Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan.
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