Top Okra Producing Countries

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), also known as "lady's finger," is widely cultivated in warm and tropical regions around the world, with India being by far the largest producer, accounting for over 60% of global production. Other leading countries include Nigeria, Sudan, Iraq, Côte d'Ivoire, and Pakistan. Okra's domestication is believed to have originated in the Abyssinian center, encompassing present-day Ethiopia and Sudan, before spreading through North Africa and the Middle East, eventually reaching India and the Americas via the transatlantic slave trade. Its cultivation expanded rapidly due to its adaptability to hot climates and its value as both a food and a thickening agent in soups and stews. Today, okra remains a staple in South Asian, West African, Middle Eastern, and Southern U.S. cuisines, reflecting its long journey through history and across continents.

RankCountryMetric Tons
1India6,466,000
2Nigeria1,917,407
3Mali669,688
4Sudan322,403
5Pakistan263,448
6Cote d Ivoire193,194
7Niger132,139
8Iraq93,396
9Cameroon84,030
10Egypt82,355
11Bangladesh70,000
12Ghana68,585
13Malaysia63,097
14Benin62,214
15Mexico38,757
16Turkey32,423
17Philippines32,422
18Saudi Arabia25,327
19Burkina Faso23,022
20Senegal21,250
21Syria19,837
22Oman19,616
23Yemen19,460
24Kenya18,664
25Guyana16,720
26United States of America10,417
27Albania9,146
28Jamaica6,924
29Jordan6,917
30Guatemala6,379
31Fiji6,014
32Kuwait5,858
33Palestine3,297
34Malawi3,047
35Trinidad and Tobago1,582
36Congo1,580
37Mauritius1,272
38United Arab Emirates1,253

Data from United Nations FAO Stat