The 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries
Top 10 World’s Biggest
Potato-Producing Countries –Potato plants (Solanum
tuberosum L.) are an important crop commodity that can be processed
into diverse types of dishes that are delicious to humans’ needs. Historically,
the potato plant originated in the Americas and is thought to have been first
discovered in Peru. Taxonomically, potatoes can be classified as follows:
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Spermatophyta Class: Dicotyledonae Order: Tubiflorae
Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: Solanum tuberosum L.
The World’s Production and Harvested Areas of Potatoes From 1970 to 2022
Years |
Harvested Areas |
Production of Potatoes |
(hectares) |
(Tons) |
|
1970 |
20,773,099 |
298,048,017 |
1971 |
20,377,730 |
279,490,572 |
1972 |
20,294,269 |
272,144,812 |
1973 |
20,091,178 |
307,160,130 |
1974 |
20,157,078 |
284,781,339 |
1975 |
19,847,391 |
270,384,075 |
1976 |
19,056,813 |
272,745,276 |
1977 |
19,081,224 |
279,667,694 |
1978 |
19,152,390 |
291,161,652 |
1979 |
19,226,425 |
297,921,605 |
1980 |
18,787,687 |
240,495,788 |
1981 |
18,788,706 |
267,781,520 |
1982 |
18,743,840 |
265,142,602 |
1983 |
18,676,610 |
264,471,009 |
1984 |
18,672,122 |
290,945,972 |
1985 |
18,427,594 |
281,603,760 |
1986 |
18,123,493 |
286,610,518 |
1987 |
17,974,956 |
279,415,351 |
1988 |
18,105,332 |
268,603,004 |
1989 |
18,014,210 |
276,583,863 |
1990 |
17,656,477 |
266,825,273 |
1991 |
17,818,561 |
256,993,288 |
1992 |
18,616,624 |
278,979,592 |
1993 |
18,561,212 |
304,618,981 |
1994 |
18,188,523 |
270,202,917 |
1995 |
18,617,753 |
285,332,183 |
1996 |
18,812,570 |
310,492,904 |
1997 |
18,798,686 |
301,078,089 |
1998 |
18,768,037 |
297,833,666 |
1999 |
19,589,031 |
296,072,511 |
2000 |
19,895,378 |
322,768,879 |
2001 |
19,437,764 |
305,484,377 |
2002 |
18,816,702 |
309,789,866 |
2003 |
18,701,649 |
307,575,064 |
2004 |
18,740,927 |
328,144,851 |
2005 |
18,755,209 |
317,664,052 |
2006 |
17,802,756 |
307,571,761 |
2007 |
18,010,769 |
313,197,272 |
2008 |
18,165,898 |
327,218,340 |
2009 |
18,581,430 |
330,778,994 |
2010 |
18,173,550 |
328,663,252 |
2011 |
18,699,490 |
368,983,872 |
2012 |
18,698,238 |
362,049,538 |
2013 |
18,507,224 |
366,054,695 |
2014 |
18,052,211 |
369,789,697 |
2015 |
18,061,777 |
366,068,421 |
2016 |
17,413,386 |
354,833,711 |
2017 |
17,435,622 |
370,114,760 |
2018 |
17,191,158 |
365,703,133 |
2019 |
16,481,645 |
368,832,967 |
2020 |
16,887,038 |
371,143,173 |
2021 |
18,132,694 |
376,119,974 |
2022 |
17,788,408 |
374,777,763 |
|
Of course, as one of the
favorite plants in the world, this plant has been widely cultivated in various
countries in the world and is evenly distributed in all continents in the
world. In 2022, based on data from FAO, worldwide potato production reached 374
million tons with a total planted area of seventeen million hectares spread throughout the world.
Based on data at the
continental level, the Asian continent is still the main canter for potato
cultivation with production reaching 203 million tons (or contributing about 54%
of world potato production), followed by Europe with the production of 98
million tons (contributing 26% of world’s
potato production), the Americas with production reaching 44 million tons
(contributing 12%), and Africa with 27 million tons (or contributing 7.2%).
When viewed from the
country level, there are several countries in the world as the main potato
producers. These countries certainly have a large production base due to high
domestic demand. Here are the Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing
Countries. This data was obtained from the FAO Statistical Corporate Database
(FAOSTAT) in 2024.
The Rank of Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries in 2022
Rank |
Countries |
Production of Potatoes |
in 2022 (Tons) |
||
1 |
China, mainland |
95,570,055 |
2 |
India |
56,176,000 |
3 |
Ukraine |
20,899,210 |
4 |
Russian Federation |
18,887,679 |
5 |
United States of America |
17,791,840 |
6 |
Germany |
10,683,400 |
7 |
Bangladesh |
10,144,835 |
8 |
France |
8,067,380 |
9 |
Pakistan |
7,936,884 |
10 |
Netherlands (Kingdom of the) |
6,915,900 |
Source : FAOSTAT, 2024 |
A Brief Description of Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries
1. China, mainland
China is the biggest of
all countries with the production of 95.5 million tons in 2022. In 2006, the
planted area of potatoes in China was around 5.34 million hectares.
Geographically, there are some regions of potatoes area in China. These regions
are Guizhou, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Heilongjiang,
Shanxi, and Shaanxi. Genetically, Some of the Potato varieties planted
in China are Qingshu 168, Xiazhai 65, and Cooperation 88.
2. India
India was the second
biggest country of potato production in the world. In 2022, based on the
FAOSTAT data, the production of India’s Potato reached 56.1 million tons. In
this Mahatma Gandhi’s country, there are some States in India with the biggest
productions of Potato. These states are Uttar Pradesh with production
reached fifteen million tons, West Bengal 13 million tons, Bihar 8.1 million
tons, Gujarat 3.7 million tons, Madhya Pradesh 3.2 million tons, Punjab 2.7
million tons, and Assam 1.1 million tons. Genetically, there are some varieties
of potatoes in India. these are Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri
Jyoti, KufriBadshah, Kufri Anand and some variety in India.
3. Ukraine
Ukraine was the 3rd
world’s biggest country producer of potaotes. Based on the FAO data in 2022,
the production of Ukraine Potato reached 20.8 million tons. Geographically,
some regions of Potato production in Ukraine are Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Lviv, and
Kyiv. Genetically, some promising cultivars of potato in Ukraine are Knyahynya,
Myroslava, Sluch, Solokha, Khortytsya, and Fotiniya.
4. Russian Federation
Russia was the 4th
biggest country of potato production in the world. In 2021, based on the
FAOSTAT data, the production of India’s Potato reached 18.2 million tons. The
location of potato production in Russia spread out throughout Russia but major
potato-producing provinces in Russia are in the Central and Volga Valley
Federal District (FD).
Based on the
administrative area of the District, some areas of the main
Production of Potato in Rusia based on Vasileva (2013) in the USDA report are
Moscow Oblast with 330,000 metric tons (MT) in the Central Federal District
(FD); Bryansk Oblast with 269,000 metric tons (MT) in the Central Federal
District (FD); Nizhniy Novgorod oblast with 223,000 metric tons (MT) in
the Volga Valley Federal District (FD); Tula Oblast with 189,000 MT in the
Central Federal District (FD); Tumen Oblast (167,000 MT) in Siberian Federal
District (FD); the Chuvashia Republic with 154,000 metric tons (MT) in
the Volga Valley FD; Sverdlovsk with 141,000 metric tons (MT) in
the Ural FD; Samara Oblast (136,000 MT) in the Volga Valley FD. Genetically,
some potato cultivars were planted in the Russian area Gala, Vega, Colomba, Red
Scarlett, Queen Anne, Madeira, and Baltic Rose.
5. United States of America
The United States of
America was the 5th world’s largest country producer of potaotes.
Based on the FAO data in 2022, the production of USA’s Potato reached 17.7
million tons. Geographically, based on the Statista in 2022, there are
some regions of Potato Production in the United States of America
(USA), these states are Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, Oregon, Colorado, North
Dakota, Michigan, and Minnesota. Genetically, these are some varieties of
potatoes that are usually planted in the USA. these varieties are Russet Burbank,
Russet Norkotah, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Frito-Lay varieties, and
Norland.
6. Germany
Germany was the next one
from European Continent. In 2022, the production of Potato in Germany reaches 10.6
million tons. Geographically, there are some areas of potato cultivation in
Germany. Lower Saxony is the largest potato area in Germany, followed by
Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. Three-quarters of the German production
comes from these three federal states. Culturally, Germany’s many varieties of
potatoes are divided into three categories: festkochend (waxy), vorwiegend
festkochend (medium waxy), and mehlig (mealy). German stores label
potatoes based on these three categories with a colored coded strip: green for
festkochend, red for vorwiegend festkochend and blue for mehlig.
7. Bangladesh
Bangladesh is the next one
from Asia Continent. In 2022, the production of Potato in Bangladesh reaches 10.1
million tons. Commonly, Potato is the third most important crop in Bangladesh
and is planted massively in all provinces in Bangladesh. Genetically,
some local cultivars planted in Bangladesh are Sheel Bilatee, Lal Sheel, Lal
Pakri, Cardinal, Diament, Kufri Shindhury, and Du Hajari.
8. France
France was the 8th
world’s largest country producer of potatoes. In the the year of 2022, the
potato production from France reached 8 million tons. In France, the production
of Potato has concentrated the north of the Loire River, in the
Hauts-de-France region, which accounts for two-thirds of the national
production. Genetically, some potato that are famous in France are French
Fingerling, Pomme de terre de Noirmoutier, Le Bonnotte, Béa du Roussillon, Pommes
de Terre de Merville, and Pomme de Terre de I’Île de Ré.
9. Pakistan
In 2022,
Pakistan still become one of the world's largest country producer of Potatoes
with national production reaching 7.9 million tons. Geographically, the main
main cultivation area of potatoes located in Punjab 327 thousand hectares (ha),
followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with
total areas reaching 11,529 hectares, 1,713 hectares in Balochistan, and 355
hectares in Sindh.
10. The Netherlands
The Netherlands was the
ninth biggest in the world. According to the FAO database, in 2022, the
production of potatoes in the Netherlands reach 6.9 million tons. With
advanced of technology, this potato’s yield in this country reaches 45 tons per
hectares (ha). Statistically, half of the Netherlands’ potato crop is grown
directly for food – around 20 percent is a seed production, and the remaining
30 percent is processed for starch. About 70 percent of Dutch ware potatoes are
exported in the form of fresh tubers and potato products, such as chips and
flour.
11. Egypt
Egypt is the 11th
biggest country producer of potatoes in 2022. Statistically, based on the FAO
Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Potatoes from Egypt
reached 6.1 million tons. Geographically, in Egypt, there are some basis
regions potato areas that located in the Nile Delta and Middle Egypt. The
governorates of Behaira, Gharbia, Menofia, and Sharkia are the leading
producers of potato in the Nile Delta. Furthermore, the Production in Middle
Egypt located in Giza and Minia.
Genetically, there are
some Major sources and varieties used in Egypt that comes foreign countries.
these variety includes seed from Netherlands (Alpha, Spunta, Patrones, Mirka,
Baraka, Desiree, Cardinal, Jaerla, Ajax, Sing, Ostara, and Draga), France (Claudia,
Kerboni, and King Edward), Ireland (King Edward), Scotland (Arran Banner) and,
Germany (Grata and Cosima).
12. Poland
Poland was the 12th world’s
biggest country producer of potatoes. According to the FAO database, in 2022,
the production of potatoes in Poland reaches 6 million tons. Statistically, in
2018, the area of Potato Farming in Poland was 316 thousand hectares (ha). In
this Poland, there are some main seed areas of Potato, but the greatest
concentration of seed production was from the northern and southern parts of
Pomorskie Province, where many seed potatoes were cultivated, and in the north
of the Zachodniopomorskie Province, around the towns of Koszalin and Kołobrzeg.
The Summary of 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries
Bibliography Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries
FAO. 2024. Production of
Potatoes: top ten producers 2022. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize
on November 15th, 2023.
Xie, K. The Status of
Organic Potato Production in China. FAO. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/3/i0200e/I0200E09.htm
on November 16th, 2021.
Produce Report. 2016.
China’s newest breed of potato produces impressive results. Accessed via https://www.producereport.com/article/china%E2%80%99s-newest-breed-potato-produces-impressive-results
on November 16th, 2021.
MapsofIndia. 2021.Top 10
Potato Producing States in India. Accessed via
https://www.mapsofindia.com/top-ten/india-crops/potato.html on November
16th, 2021.
Vasileva, Y. 2013.
Overview of Potato Supply and Demand in Russia. Accessed via https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Overview%20of%20Potato%20Supply%20and%20Demand%20in%20Russia_Moscow_Russian%20Federation_10-31-2013.pdf on
November 16th, 2021.
Ukrgate. 2021. Top-5
Regions of Ukraine in Terms of Potato Production. Accessed via
https://www.ukrgate.com/eng/?p=8425 on November 16th, 2021.
Agro-center. 2018.
Ukrainian scientists selected over one hundred potato varieties. Accessed
via
https://news.agro-center.com.ua/en/plant-growing-en/ukrainian-scientists-selected-over-100-potato-varieties.html
on November 16th, 2021.
Statista. 2021. Potato
production in the United States in 2020, by state. Accessed via https://www.statista.com/statistics/382166/us-potato-production-by-state/ on
November 16th, 2021.
PotatoPro. 2016. The top
six potato varieties grown in the United States (Fall Crop). Accessed via https://www.potatopro.com/news/2016/top-six-potato-varieties-grown-united-states-fall-crop on
November 16th, 2021.
Banglapedia. 2021. Potato.
Accessed via https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Potato on
November 16th, 2021.
TasteAtlas. 2021. 6 Most
Popular French Potatoes. Accessed via https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-potatoes-in-france on
November 16th, 2021.
Potatopro. 2021. The
Netherlands. Accessed via https://www.potatopro.com/netherlands/potato-statistics on
November 16th, 2021.