10 World’s Biggest Country Producers of Pepper
10 World’s Biggest Country Producers of
Pepper- According FAO
Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2025, there are 10 World’s Biggest
Producers of Pepper in 2023. Functionally, pepper can be known as multifunction
in supporting human life. Many people used and processed these aromatic plants
as food spice, medicinal substance, and some agrochemical products. In terms of
pharmacy industries, some pepper treats several diseases such as urological
problems, skin, liver and stomach ailments. In addition, the Piper species has
positive effects on
natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents in food preservation.
Taxonomically, these plants belonged to Order: Piperales; Family:
Piperaceae; Subfamily: Piperaceae.
The Piperaceae family includes members of flowering plants in the form of
shrubs, often climbing using sticky roots, and
has a characteristic that the leaves often smell aromatic or spicy taste.
In the world, the production and harvested areas of peppers are increasing in trends. It can
be seen from the statistical database from
1970 to 2023. In the year 1970, the world’s harvested areas of pepper were only
194,511 hectares (ha) with world’s production of pepper reaching 102,611 tons. After more than 50 years, exactly in the
year 2023, the world’s harvested areas became 670,332 hectares (ha) with the
world’s production of pepper reaching 855,105
tons.
The World’s Production and Harvested Areas of Pepper From 1970 to 2023
|
|
||
|
Years |
World’s
Harvested Areas of Pepper |
World’s
Production of Pepper |
|
|
(Hectare (ha)) |
Tons |
|
1970 |
194,511 |
102,611 |
|
1971 |
202,499 |
110,391 |
|
1972 |
197,791 |
114,039 |
|
1973 |
203,520 |
121,567 |
|
1974 |
204,143 |
128,361 |
|
1975 |
201,462 |
127,045 |
|
1976 |
207,613 |
156,081 |
|
1977 |
212,691 |
154,930 |
|
1978 |
194,696 |
168,612 |
|
1979 |
224,533 |
168,164 |
|
1980 |
228,163 |
178,582 |
|
1981 |
234,175 |
161,581 |
|
1982 |
232,248 |
166,326 |
|
1983 |
233,703 |
152,387 |
|
1984 |
232,102 |
154,701 |
|
1985 |
229,024 |
142,564 |
|
1986 |
252,422 |
170,122 |
|
1987 |
268,836 |
172,893 |
|
1988 |
312,319 |
229,968 |
|
1989 |
337,248 |
249,622 |
|
1990 |
354,453 |
287,865 |
|
1991 |
359,202 |
284,310 |
|
1992 |
361,098 |
242,499 |
|
1993 |
372,598 |
243,548 |
|
1994 |
361,773 |
224,636 |
|
1995 |
364,095 |
238,479 |
|
1996 |
381,320 |
240,434 |
|
1997 |
358,778 |
237,286 |
|
1998 |
374,352 |
258,685 |
|
1999 |
441,730 |
304,940 |
|
2000 |
419,518 |
315,081 |
|
2001 |
466,817 |
359,407 |
|
2002 |
494,400 |
398,980 |
|
2003 |
517,614 |
421,771 |
|
2004 |
534,893 |
426,981 |
|
2005 |
523,388 |
446,973 |
|
2006 |
636,663 |
467,242 |
|
2007 |
620,789 |
461,805 |
|
2008 |
567,250 |
446,041 |
|
2009 |
612,656 |
457,981 |
|
2010 |
563,053 |
418,346 |
|
2011 |
541,403 |
419,451 |
|
2012 |
558,557 |
414,340 |
|
2013 |
502,494 |
453,876 |
|
2014 |
520,369 |
491,394 |
|
2015 |
555,561 |
547,124 |
|
2016 |
592,734 |
592,321 |
|
2017 |
601,467 |
668,724 |
|
2018 |
670,122 |
785,839 |
|
2019 |
659,594 |
784,041 |
|
2020 |
679,561 |
781,638 |
|
2021 |
678,215 |
793,818 |
|
2022 |
685,762 |
866,026 |
|
2023 |
670,322 |
855,105 |
|
Source:
FAOSTAT, 2023 |
||
Statistically, in continental regions, there are some main areas
of pepper cultivation. Geographically, based on the continent regions, Asia and the American continent still
become the major area of cultivation. Asia
contributes 71% of World production around 589 thousand tons of Pepper in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Americans contribute 17% of World Production around 143 thousand tons. Africa
and Oceania still have minor production with 121 thousand tons and 205 tons of
pepper, respectively. Overall, the world’s production of pepper in 2023 reached
855 thousand tons with harvested area around 670 thousand hectares (Ha).
The World’s Production of Pepper in 2023 Based on Continental Areas 2023
|
Continent |
Production of Pepper in 2023 |
|
(Tons) |
|
|
Africa |
121,555 |
|
Americas |
143,955 |
|
Asia |
589,390 |
|
Oceania |
205 |
|
Source: FAOSTAT, 2025 |
|
Based on the Country regions, there are 10 World’s Biggest Pepper
Production. This data
came from FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2023. Here is the
Rank of Pepper production based on the Country.
Table Rank of 10 World’s Biggest Pepper Country Producers in 2023
|
Rank |
Countries |
Production of Pepper in 2023 |
|
(tons) |
||
|
1 |
Viet Nam |
257,427 |
|
2 |
Brazil |
126,548 |
|
3 |
Burkina Faso |
73,836 |
|
4 |
Indonesia |
70,169 |
|
5 |
India |
65,740 |
|
6 |
Iraq |
48,585 |
|
7 |
Sri Lanka |
45,166 |
|
8 |
Malaysia |
40,675 |
|
9 |
China, mainland |
33,909 |
|
10 |
Tajikistan |
23,273 |
|
Source : FAOSTAT, 2025 |
||
The
Histogram Rank of 10 World’s Biggest Country Producers of Pepper
Brief
Description of 10 World’s Biggest Country Producers of Pepper
1.Vietnam
Vietnam still became the biggest producer of Pepper in 2023.
According to the FAO
Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) of 2025, the production of pepper from
Vietnam reached 257,427 tons. Geographically, in Vietnam, there are some
biggest cultivation areas of peppers. These are located in some provinces, namely Dak Lak, Dak Nang, Dong Nai,
Bihn Phuoc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Gia Lai. Most of the cultivation of pepper is concentrated in the Central
Highlands and Southern region. Based on the cultivars, there are some kinds
of peppers plated in Vietnam. Statistically, these
are Black pepper, White pepper, ground pepper, red pepper, and green pepper.
2. Brazil
Brazil is the second-biggest country producer of pepper in 2023 and the biggest producer from the Americas.
According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2025, the
production of Pepper from samba country (Brazil) reached 126,548 tons.
Geographically, the pepper cultivation in Brazil is located in some states. These
main cultivation states are Para, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Maranhao. Based on the
cultivars, Black Pepper (Piper ningrum)
is the most popular pepper in Brazil. Some of the productions of Pepper from
Brazil are exported to some countries around Europe and the American region/ continent.
3. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is still one of the world’s largest producers of pepper. According to FAO
Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of pepper from Burkina Faso reached 73,836 tons in 2023. In Burkina
Faso, pepper is increasingly cultivated and is one of crops with a high market
value. Geographically, the crop is grown in all the country's provinces in Burkina Faso.
4.Indonesia
Indonesia still became the fourth world’s biggest pepper country
producer in the world. According to
the FAO Statistical Corporate Database in 2025, the
production of Pepper from Indonesia reaches
70,169 tons in 2023. Geographically, there are the main areas of pepper
production in this country. The provinces of
Kepulauan Bangka Belitung, Lampung, Sumatera Selatan, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan
Barat, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tenggara are some provinces in Indonesia that
have the biggest production of Pepper. Based on the type of pepper, Black
pepper, White pepper, green pepper, and red pepper are some of the cultivars
which were planted in some Indonesia regions.
5.India
India is the fifth biggest producer of Pepper. Statistically, the
production of Pepper from India reached 65,740 tons in 2023. Geographically, in
India, there are some states that become the main area of Pepper cultivation.
Some states are Kerala, Karnataka, Assam, Tamil Nandu. Of all the states,
Kerala and Karnataka still become the main contributor to India’s Pepper
production. Specifically, Kerala contributes more than 50% and Karnataka around
35% to national production.
6. Iraq
Iraq is the 6 world’s largest country producer of pepper in 2023.
Statistically, the production of pepper from Iraq reached 48,585 tons according
to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2025.
7.Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is the seventh biggest country producer of pepper.
Statistically, the production of Pepper from Sri Lanka reached 45,166 tons in
2023. Geographically, there are some districts in Sri Lanka that have become the main cultivation
area of pepper. Matale, Kandy, Kegalle, Badulla, Ratnapura, Monaragala, and
Kurunegala are some districts in Sri Lanka that become the backbone of Pepper
production in Sri Lanka
8. Malaysia
Malaysia is the eighth-biggest producer of Pepper in 2023. Based
on the FAO Statistical Database in 2025, the production of Pepper from Malaysia
reached 40,675 tons. Statistically, Sarawak region still becomes the major area
of Pepper cultivation in Malaysia. Around 90% of Pepper in Malaysia come from
Sarawak. Genetically, Kuching cultivar is one of the popular peppers planted in
Sarawak.
9.China, mainland
China is the 9th
world’s biggest producer of pepper in the
world. According to the FAO Statistical
Database in 2025, the production of Pepper from China reached 33,909 tons.
Geographically, there are some provinces in China that become the main area of
Pepper. Some provinces are Guizhou, Henan, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Hunan, Shandong,
Guangdong, and Liaoning.
10.Tajikistan
Tajikistan
is also one of the world’s biggest country producers of Pepper in 2023. According to the FAO Statistical Database in 2025, the production of Pepper
from Tajikistan reached 23,272 tons.
Bibliography
of 10 World’s Biggest Country Producers of Pepper
FAOSTAT. 2024.Production of Pepper (piper spp.): top ten
producers. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize on May 2nd, 2024.
Agri exchange. 2022. India Production of Pepper. Accessed
via https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/India%20Production/India_Productions.aspx?hscode=1096 on June 2nd, 2022.
K-Agriculture. 2022. Vietnam pepper production industry: Towards
sustainable development accessed via https://k-agriculture.com/vietnam-pepper-production-industry-towards-sustainable-development/ on June 2nd, 2022.
Federative Republic of Brazil. 2011. Brazil Country Paper in
Pepper Production, Processing and Trade. accessed via http://www.ipcnet.org/admin/data/ses/1329380831thumb.pdf on June 2nd, 2022.