Ducks have been domesticated for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting their origins trace back to Southeast Asia, particularly in China, where they were first raised for meat, eggs, and feathers over 2,000 years ago. Today, China remains by far the world’s leading producer of domestic ducks, accounting for more than two-thirds of global production, thanks to its long tradition and large-scale farming systems. Other significant duck-raising countries include Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Thailand, where ducks are integral to rice paddy agriculture and local diets. In Europe, France is notable for its production of ducks, especially for foie gras, while in the West, the United States also maintains a modest but specialized duck industry. The spread of domesticated ducks from Asia to other parts of the world occurred through trade and migration, leading to the development of various breeds suited to different climates and culinary uses.
| Rank | Country | Head |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 675,777,000 |
| 2 | Vietnam | 82,003,000 |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 61,746,000 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 58,652,000 |
| 5 | India | 33,500,000 |
| 6 | France | 22,246,000 |
| 7 | Russia | 20,510,000 |
| 8 | Thailand | 14,598,000 |
| 9 | Philippines | 12,512,000 |
| 10 | Ukraine | 11,373,000 |
| 11 | Malaysia | 9,679,000 |
| 12 | Cambodia | 8,948,000 |
| 13 | Myanmar | 8,700,000 |
| 14 | United States of America | 7,919,000 |
| 15 | China Taiwan | 7,526,000 |
| 16 | North Korea | 6,950,000 |
| 17 | South Korea | 6,752,000 |
| 18 | Poland | 5,271,000 |
| 19 | Madagascar | 4,599,000 |
| 20 | Egypt | 3,999,000 |
| 21 | Pakistan | 3,868,000 |
| 22 | Laos | 3,633,000 |
| 23 | Brazil | 3,438,000 |
| 24 | Hungary | 2,970,000 |
| 25 | Argentina | 2,625,000 |
| 26 | Mozambique | 2,557,000 |
| 27 | Belarus | 2,141,000 |
| 28 | United Kingdom | 2,116,000 |
| 29 | Sierra Leone | 2,026,000 |
| 30 | Iran | 1,532,000 |
| 31 | Canada | 1,501,000 |
| 32 | Paraguay | 1,430,000 |
| 33 | Tanzania | 1,362,000 |
| 34 | Australia | 1,114,000 |
| 35 | Bolivia | 704,000 |
| 36 | Netherlands | 632,000 |
| 37 | Ecuador | 554,000 |
| 38 | Turkey | 540,000 |
| 39 | Suriname | 500,000 |
| 40 | Nepal | 432,000 |
| 41 | South Africa | 419,000 |
| 42 | Liberia | 345,000 |
| 43 | Haiti | 327,000 |
| 44 | China Hong Kong | 234,000 |
| 45 | Brunei Darussalam | 229,000 |
| 46 | New Zealand | 184,000 |
| 47 | Israel | 178,000 |
| 48 | Norway | 121,000 |
| 49 | Panama | 119,000 |
| 50 | Fiji | 114,000 |
| 51 | Serbia | 103,000 |
| 52 | Kyrgyzstan | 92,000 |
| 53 | Zimbabwe | 87,000 |
| 54 | Algeria | 64,000 |
| 55 | Syria | 44,000 |
| 56 | Mauritius | 41,000 |
| 57 | Equatorial Guinea | 38,000 |
| 58 | Croatia | 36,000 |
| 59 | Sao Tome and Principe | 34,000 |
| 60 | French Polynesia | 30,000 |
| 61 | Rwanda | 24,000 |
| 62 | Sri Lanka | 20,000 |
| 63 | Papua New Guinea | 18,000 |
| 64.5 | Slovenia | 16,000 |
| 64.5 | Slovakia | 16,000 |
| 66 | Lithuania | 15,000 |
| 67 | Central African Republic | 13,000 |
| 68 | Belize | 12,000 |
| 69 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10,000 |
| 70 | Jordan | 7,000 |
| 71.5 | Seychelles | 5,000 |
| 71.5 | Switzerland | 5,000 |
Data from United Nations FAO Stat