Top Cotton Producing Countries

Cotton is a vital cash crop with a rich history, and today its top producers are India, China, the United States, Brazil, and Pakistan. Cotton cultivation originated in the ancient world, with evidence of domestication in both the Indus Valley (modern-day Pakistan and northwest India) and Peru as early as 5,000 BCE. The crop spread through trade routes to Egypt, Africa, and the Mediterranean, and later to Europe. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, cotton became the backbone of textile industries, especially in Britain and the American South, where the invention of the cotton gin greatly increased production. In the modern era, India and China lead global production due to their favorable climates, large agricultural sectors, and significant domestic textile industries, while the U.S. remains a major exporter, particularly from states like Texas. Advances in irrigation, pest control, and genetically modified varieties have further boosted yields worldwide, making cotton a cornerstone of the global agricultural economy.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat