Top 5 Cotton Producing Countries In The World

Cotton is a fiber that is produced by shrub plants. This delicate and fluffy plant’s fibers are used to create a wide range of fabrics and textiles, from lightweight laces to thick-piled velveteen.




Cotton textiles are widely utilized in apparel, furniture, and industrial applications. It’s widely used in clothing since it’s incredibly breathable, absorbing and releasing sweat fast.

Cotton is grown all over the globe and is usually collected by machines, although it is also hand-picked on occasion. Cotton is produced in around 25 million tonnes per year across the globe.

As a consequence of the COVID-19 epidemic, worldwide cotton consumption decreased by 15% from August 2019 to July 2020. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, worldwide cotton consumption is predicted to rise 11.30 percent from August 2020 to July 2021.




The world’s top three cotton producers, India, the United States, and China, provide the bulk of the cotton. Continue reading to learn more about the world’s top cotton growers.

Top 5 Cotton Producing Countries In The World

1. India

India produces 5,770 thousand metric tons of cotton each year, making it the world’s largest producer. Cotton has been used in India for thousands of years, with its roots dating back to the Indus Valley civilization, which flourished in the northern parts of the country.




The zone that encompasses Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh produces the bulk of India’s cotton because of its favorable environment.

2. The United States of America

Cotton is a major producer and exporter in the United States. Every year, it produces 3,999 thousand metric tonnes. The cotton crop is mostly grown in the “Cotton Belt,” a region of 17 southern states that includes Virginia, Arizona, Mississippi, and Texas.

Texas is the greatest cotton producer in the United States, accounting for over half of all cotton output in the nation. Cotton is harvested using three mechanical technologies in the United States.




Harvesting of the crop starts in July in the southern part of Texas and continues until late November in the northern states.

3. China

China is one of the world’s largest cotton growers, producing 3,500 thousand metric tons every year. The cotton industry in China employs ten million people, with 300 million people working in the 24 regions that produce the plant.




China cultivates Bt cotton, a commercially produced genetically modified crop. Since its introduction in 2002, the crop has shown to be more pest-resistant than non-GM cotton.

4. Brazil




Brazil, a South American nation, produces 2,787,000 metric tons of cotton per year. The nation has a lot of agricultural farmland and gets a lot of rain, which makes it excellent for cotton farming.

Cotton is mostly grown in Brazil’s central states, however, despite their plenty of land and water, the central states have challenges when it comes to exporting cotton due to a lack of effective transportation connections.

5. Pakistan

Each year, Pakistan produces 1,655 thousand metric tons of cotton. Cotton is grown along the Indus River, where it is believed that 97 percent of the river’s water is used to grow crops, including cotton.

Cotton that has been genetically engineered accounts for more than 95 percent of the area under cultivation. Cotton is grown by around 1.7 million persons in Pakistan.




Top Cotton Producing Countries In The World

RankCountryCotton production in thousand of metric tonnes
1India5,770
2United States3,999
3China3,500
4Brazil2,787
5Pakistan1,655
6Turkey806
7Uzbekistan713
8Australia479
9Turkmenistan198
10Burkina Faso185

Cotton is used by millions of people every day throughout the globe, and demand is likely to increase in the future years. The need for sustainable cotton has grown as a result of the growth in demand.

Cotton production methods that are environmentally friendly are at the forefront of discussions in the quest for sustainability. Pesticide usage in conventional cotton farming accounts for 18% of global pesticide consumption, and cotton growers are poisoned by extensive pesticide use.




More than 100,000 farmers in the United States die each year from malignancies linked to pesticides. The answer to these problems is sustainable cotton production. It utilizes fewer toxic chemicals, consumes less water, and helps cotton growers get out of poverty.

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