Top Bee Producing Countries

Beekeeping, or apiculture, has ancient roots, with evidence of honey collection dating back over 9,000 years in prehistoric Africa, and the earliest records of domesticated bees appearing in ancient Egypt around 2400 BCE, where hives were carefully managed along the Nile. The practice spread across the Mediterranean and into Europe and Asia, with innovations such as the movable-frame hive in 19th-century Europe revolutionizing honey production. Today, the top countries in beekeeping and honey production include China, which leads the world by a significant margin, followed by Turkey, Iran, the United States, and Russia. These countries benefit from diverse climates and rich floral resources, supporting large populations of the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera), the primary species used in modern apiculture. Beekeeping remains vital for both honey production and the pollination of crops, underpinning food security worldwide.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat