10 World’s Biggest Cow’s Milk Country Producers
Statistically, based on the FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2024, The World’s production of Cow Milk has increased substantially from time to time. In 1980, the World’s production of Cow’s milk reached 422 million tons. Furthermore, in 2022, world’s production of cow’s milk has increased into 753 million tons. Overall, in the last 30 years, the increasing production of cow’s milk around 320 million tons or more than 70 % of increasing percentage.
World’s Production of Cow’s Milk From 1980 to 2022
| Years | World’s Production of Cow’s Milk |
|---|---|
| (Tons) | |
| 1980 | 422,347,420 |
| 1981 | 423,976,595 |
| 1982 | 434,512,863 |
| 1983 | 449,737,204 |
| 1984 | 453,185,414 |
| 1985 | 458,799,907 |
| 1986 | 466,667,747 |
| 1987 | 465,773,722 |
| 1988 | 471,376,589 |
| 1989 | 476,760,095 |
| 1990 | 478,537,692 |
| 1991 | 468,465,097 |
| 1992 | 459,114,035 |
| 1993 | 458,690,423 |
| 1994 | 460,270,616 |
| 1995 | 462,873,222 |
| 1996 | 466,660,064 |
| 1997 | 468,015,643 |
| 1998 | 474,073,470 |
| 1999 | 482,708,984 |
| 2000 | 489,499,763 |
| 2001 | 496,554,948 |
| 2002 | 509,205,497 |
| 2003 | 518,314,382 |
| 2004 | 527,363,874 |
| 2005 | 544,994,207 |
| 2006 | 558,964,559 |
| 2007 | 568,144,826 |
| 2008 | 581,075,291 |
| 2009 | 585,624,621 |
| 2010 | 597,118,564 |
| 2011 | 611,313,943 |
| 2012 | 625,320,596 |
| 2013 | 634,356,215 |
| 2014 | 655,142,428 |
| 2015 | 666,875,073 |
| 2016 | 671,157,645 |
| 2017 | 685,198,734 |
| 2018 | 701,298,804 |
| 2019 | 715,046,737 |
| 2020 | 742,425,788 |
| 2021 | 746,056,589 |
| 2022 753,320,577 Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
In 2022, the total production of cow’s milk reaches 753 million tons. Based on the continental productions, some regions have the biggest production of cow’s milk. Asia still becomes the biggest production with 258.5 million tons, followed by Europe with the production reach 226 million tons, Americas with 2199.2 million tons, Africa with 39.8 Million tons, and Oceania with 29.5 million tons.
Scientifically, many factors play a role in influencing milk production and quality, including genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors that affect production are cattle species, while environmental factors that affect productivity include feed, climate, altitude, disease, and several other factors. Of course, statistically, many countries produce cow’s milk to meet the needs of their population. Its high nutritional value and various other positive impacts make many countries compete to produce it. The following are the countries with the largest milk production in 2023 According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Rank Table of Biggest Cow’s Milk Producers
| Ranks | Country | Production of Cow’s Milk |
|---|---|---|
1 | India | (Tons) 108,371,300 |
| 2 | United States of America | 102,721,557 |
| 3 | Brazil | 35,647,495 |
| 4 | China, mainland | 35,613,500 |
| 5 | Russian Federation | 32,738,522 |
| 6 | Germany | 32,399,050 |
| 7 | France | 23,967,960 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 23,026,100 |
| 9 | New Zealand | 21,051,000 |
| 10 | Türkiye | 19,912,135 |
Source : FAOSTAT, 2024 | ||
Brief Description of 10 World's Largest Country Producers of Cow's Milk
1. India
India is the biggest Cow’s Milk Producing Country. In 2022, its production reached 108 million tons. The principal areas for producing milk are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. These states supply almost half of India’s national milk.
2. The United States of America
The United States was the second world’s biggest producer of cow’s milk in 2022. In that year, its production reached 102 million tons. In general, there are several areas of the state that are centers of milk production. These states are California, Wisconsin, New York, and Idaho. These states have a major contribution to the national production of cow’s milk in the United States.
In this country, Holstein cows which have black and white coats produce more than 90% of US cow’s milk and Jersey Cows are the second most popular cow in the US, accounting for 7% of total US milk production.
3.Brazil
Brazil is the 3rd-largest cow’s milk producer in the world. In 2022, its production reached 35.6 million tons. Statistically, there are several states that have a large contribution to milk. In the ranking of states in Brazil, Minas Gerais ranks first in milk production, accounting for 28.4% of Brazil’s total milk. The second state was Goiás with an 11.3% contribution, the third was the Rio Grande do Sul, with 10.4% and the rest were Paraná, with 9.6%, and São Paulo, with 8%.
4. China
China is in 4th place as the largest cow’s milk producer in the world. In 2022, its production reached 35.6 million tons. There are major states that produce milk. These states are Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Sichuan, and Anhui, which account for 72.25% of China’s total milk production.
Even though this country has the largest production, they still import milk and its derivatives from other countries such as New Zealand, the United States, Australia, and Argentina. With the largest population in the world, it is not surprising that this country is the share of exports of cow’s milk from several countries.
5.Russian Federation
Russia is the 5th biggest producer of Cow’s Milk. Statistically, milk production from Russia in 2022 reached 32 million tons. Geographically, in this country, there are some regions that become the main area of cow milk production. These areas include Tatarstan, Krasnodar, Voronezh, Unhurt ia, Kirov, Sverdlovsk, Moscow, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, Vologda, Altai, Belgorod, and Bashkortostan.
6. Germany
Germany is the 6th-largest producer. As of 2023, the country has produced 32.3 tons of milk. This fact makes Germany the first largest producer of cow’s milk from the European continent. The main place for milk production is in Eastern Germany with an average cattle holding of 150-200 per farm.
To date, there are about 82,865 dairy farmers in Germany. With numerous farmers, Germany can export milk and its derivatives to other countries. Half of all milk produced in Germany is exported, and cheese (a dairy product) is Germany’s main export product. Therefore, milk production has a high contribution to the country from the livestock sector.
7.France
France is 7th biggest producer of Cow’s Milk. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2022, the production of Cow’s Milk from France reached 23.9 million tonnes. Geographically, there are some regions in France that become the main area of Milk production. These areas include Brittany, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Pays de la Loire, Normandy, Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, and Bourgone-Franche-Comte.
8.Pakistan
Pakistan is 8th biggest producer of Cow’s Milk in 2022. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2022. Statistically, the production of Cow’s Milk from Pakistan reached 23.0 tonnes. Geographically, the major production of Milk from Pakistan is in Punjab and Sindh Provinces.
9.New Zealand
New Zealand is the 9th biggest producer of Cow’s Milk in 2022. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2024, the production of Cow’s Milk from Zew Zealand reached 21,0 million tonnes. Geographically, there are some regions as main production of cow’s milk. These regions include Waikato, Canterbury, Taranaki, Wanawatu-Wanganui, and Southland.
10.Türkiye
Turkiye is the 10th biggest producer of Cow’s Milk in 2022. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2024, the production of Cow’s Milk from Turkey reached 19.9 million tonnes. Geographically, there are some regions in Turkey as become the base production of Cow’s milk. These main regions of Turkey Cow Milk are in Aegean and Central Anatolia.
Bibliography of 10 World’s Biggest Cow’s Milk Producers
Food Agriculture Organization (FAO). 2024. Production of Milk, whole fresh cow: top ten producers, 2022. Accessed via http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QL/visualize on January 12th, 2024.
