Top Olive Producing Countries

Olive farming has ancient roots, originating in the eastern Mediterranean region thousands of years ago, with evidence of cultivation dating back to at least 6000 BCE in present-day Turkey, Syria, and Palestine. Over centuries, olive cultivation spread throughout the Mediterranean basin, becoming integral to the economies and cultures of Greece, Italy, and Spain during classical antiquity. Today, Spain stands as the world's leading producer of olives and olive oil, followed by Italy, Greece, and Turkey. These countries benefit from the Mediterranean climate, which is ideal for olive trees. In recent decades, olive farming has also expanded to countries like Tunisia, Morocco, and even outside the Mediterranean, in places such as California and Australia, reflecting the global appreciation for olives and their products. The historical journey of olive farming illustrates the crop’s adaptability and enduring importance in agriculture and cuisine worldwide.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat