Eggplant, also known as aubergine, is primarily farmed in Asia, with China and India leading global production—together, they account for over 85% of the world’s output. Other significant producers include Egypt, Turkey, and Iran. The cultivation of eggplant has a rich history, believed to have originated in India where it was domesticated over 2,000 years ago before spreading to China. By the early Middle Ages, eggplant had reached the Middle East and North Africa, likely through Persian and Arab traders, and eventually made its way to Europe via Spain during the Islamic Golden Age. Today, eggplant is a staple in many cuisines and is grown in warm climates worldwide, with modern farming techniques focusing on disease-resistant varieties and high-yield hybrids to meet global demand.
Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
---|---|---|
1 | China | 37,459,234 |
2 | India | 12,874,000 |
3 | Egypt | 1,286,470 |
4 | Turkey | 832,938 |
5 | Indonesia | 676,339 |
6 | Iran | 598,356 |
7 | Bangladesh | 587,000 |
8 | Italy | 306,440 |
9 | Japan | 282,231 |
10 | Spain | 265,290 |
11 | Syria | 252,990 |
12 | Philippines | 244,035 |
13 | Iraq | 215,687 |
14 | Uzbekistan | 210,300 |
15 | Algeria | 192,893 |
16 | Sri Lanka | 129,516 |
17 | Kazakhstan | 128,413 |
18 | Mexico | 125,531 |
19 | Saudi Arabia | 112,000 |
20 | Cote d Ivoire | 110,380 |
21 | Pakistan | 106,177 |
22 | Sudan | 99,282 |
23 | United States of America | 98,560 |
24 | Romania | 95,860 |
25 | Rwanda | 94,292 |
26 | Mali | 92,801 |
27 | Azerbaijan | 88,932 |
28 | Morocco | 81,044 |
29 | Netherlands | 63,000 |
30 | Armenia | 62,721 |
31 | Greece | 59,770 |
32 | Ukraine | 59,480 |
33 | France | 59,170 |
34 | Jordan | 58,985 |
35 | Ghana | 51,312 |
36 | Israel | 50,955 |
37 | North Korea | 49,191 |
38 | Palestine | 48,390 |
39 | Guyana | 47,078 |
40 | Oman | 36,349 |
41 | Albania | 35,425 |
42 | Kuwait | 35,223 |
43 | Malawi | 34,137 |
44 | China Taiwan | 33,988 |
45 | Lebanon | 26,902 |
46 | Dominican Republic | 24,597 |
47 | Thailand | 20,931 |
48 | Honduras | 18,808 |
49 | Venezuela | 15,588 |
50 | Colombia | 15,556 |
51 | United Arab Emirates | 14,858 |
52 | Niger | 14,347 |
53 | Belgium | 14,160 |
54 | Portugal | 10,160 |
55 | Bulgaria | 7,800 |
56 | Qatar | 6,248 |
57 | South Korea | 5,124 |
58 | Moldova | 4,800 |
59 | Yemen | 4,765 |
60 | Fiji | 4,689 |
61 | Senegal | 4,349 |
62 | Mauritius | 3,058 |
63 | Georgia | 3,000 |
64 | Libya | 2,882 |
65 | Congo | 2,584 |
66 | Poland | 2,400 |
67 | Cameroon | 2,176 |
68 | Serbia | 2,049 |
69 | Austria | 1,810 |
70 | Madagascar | 1,781 |
71 | Bahrain | 1,590 |
72 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1,334 |
73 | Cyprus | 1,290 |
74 | Hungary | 1,060 |
Data from United Nations FAO Stat