10 Largest Honey-Producing Countries in the World– Honey is a nutritious and indispensable substance for humans. Maybe, it’s one miraculous gift from the honeybees to humans. By the way, based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2021, the United Nations (UN), there are 10 Largest Honey-Producing Countries in the World. They are the main producers of natural honey in the world.
Honey has a substantial source of nutrients for the human body and has been used in various parts of the earth as a healthy food/drink. Basically, Its content can support our body to prevent disease and strengthen our antibodies. Moreover, various food and beverage products use honey as an additive to create a variety of products that are healthy for humans. Therefore, along with the importance of bees, many countries try to produce them.
In the year of 2021, the World’s honey production reached 1.7 million tons. Basically, it has increased to around 800 thousand tons since 1970. The higher demand for healthy may affect natural honey production from time to time.
World’s Production of Natural Honey From 1970 to 2021
| Years | Production of Natural Honey |
|---|---|
| (Tons) | |
| 1970 | 801,719 |
| 1971 | 771,144 |
| 1972 | 778,135 |
| 1973 | 838,263 |
| 1974 | 792,903 |
| 1975 | 772,279 |
| 1976 | 852,217 |
| 1977 | 810,406 |
| 1978 | 842,021 |
| 1979 | 905,761 |
| 1980 | 904,113 |
| 1981 | 934,505 |
| 1982 | 990,971 |
| 1983 | 1,054,418 |
| 1984 | 994,769 |
| 1985 | 1,001,997 |
| 1986 | 1,107,665 |
| 1987 | 1,150,411 |
| 1988 | 1,176,435 |
| 1989 | 1,146,050 |
| 1990 | 1,172,589 |
| 1991 | 1,241,151 |
| 1992 | 1,137,740 |
| 1993 | 1,154,958 |
| 1994 | 1,134,022 |
| 1995 | 1,164,984 |
| 1996 | 1,107,731 |
| 1997 | 1,161,080 |
| 1998 | 1,193,900 |
| 1999 | 1,244,898 |
| 2000 | 1,260,052 |
| 2001 | 1,241,501 |
| 2002 | 1,288,230 |
| 2003 | 1,336,934 |
| 2004 | 1,364,358 |
| 2005 | 1,416,551 |
| 2006 | 1,506,417 |
| 2007 | 1,453,528 |
| 2008 | 1,517,810 |
| 2009 | 1,505,357 |
| 2010 | 1,537,647 |
| 2011 | 1,610,687 |
| 2012 | 1,640,272 |
| 2013 | 1,688,386 |
| 2014 | 1,760,925 |
| 2015 | 1,821,403 |
| 2016 | 1,862,678 |
| 2017 | 1,878,308 |
| 2018 | 1,838,509 |
| 2019 | 1,757,124 |
| 2020 | 1,774,477 |
| 2021 | 1,771,944 |
| Source : FAOSTAT | |
Based on the Continent Regions, on FAOSTAT Database in 2021, Asia region still become the biggest producer with output of natural honey reached 859 thousand tons, Followed by Americas with production around 345 thousand tons, Europe with production around 383 thousand tons, Africa with 151 thousand tons, and Oceania with 32 thousand tons.
By the way, here are some countries with the largest honey production in the world. Honey production data comes from the Food and Agriculture Organization Statistical Database (FAOStat) Data in 2021.
Table Ranking of the 10 Largest Honey-Producing Countries in the World in 2021 Based on Data from the FAO Statistical Database (FAO Stat)
| Rank | Countries | Total Production of Natural Honey in 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | ||
| 1 | China, mainland | 472,700 |
| 2 | Türkiye | 96,344 |
| 3 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 77,152 |
| 4 | Argentina | 71,318 |
| 5 | Ukraine | 68,558 |
| 6 | India | 66,278 |
| 7 | Russian Federation | 64,533 |
| 8 | Mexico | 62,080 |
| 9 | United States of America | 57,364 |
| 10 | Brazil | 55,828 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2022 | ||
Brief Description of The Largest Honey-Producing Countries in Honey Production
1.China
China is the world’s largest honey producer. According to the type of bee, the honeybee species that are widely cultivated as honey producers are Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. Moreover, there are important provinces in China as centers of honey production. One of them is in Zhejiang Province. In this province, there are more than 1 million beehives spread over 15,000 beekeeper households. From the abundant honey production in China, honey production is for the world export market. According to data from Statista, China’s total honey exports in 2019 reached 120 thousand tons.
Collectively, this province, Zhejiang, accounts for one-seventh of the national honey production in Panda Country. Furthermore, statistically, based on data from FAO, the United Nations in 2021, China’s honey production reached 472,000 tons. Honey production in China is the largest one.
2.Turkey
Turkey is one of the countries in the European Union region that has the highest bee production in the world. In this country, bees are widely cultivated by farmers scattered in several provinces in Turkey. Furthermore, some of the provinces in Turkey that have the highest bee production are Mugla, Ordu, Adana, Aydin, Sivas, and Mersin. Nationally, beekeeping is one of the mainstay commodities of livestock products from Turkey. In accumulation, there are 104,709 beekeepers with a total of 6 million beehives spread across Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s country.
In 2021, based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Turkey’s honey production reached 96 thousand tons. Some of the national bee production is for domestic consumption. In addition, Turkey also exports its honey to several countries in the world, namely Germany, the United States, Jordan, Hungary, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Austria.
3.Iran
Iran is the next honey producer from the Asian region. Furthermore, In 2021, Argentina’s honey production reached 77 thousand tons according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Statistically, there are several major honey production areas in Iran. Some of these provinces are the Provinces of West Azarbaijan, Azandaran, and Ardabil. In this country, there are about 6 million beehives spread across various provinces in the country
4.Argentina
Based on data from the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations, Argentina is the country with the 4th largest honey production in the world. In 2021, Argentina’s honey production reached 71 thousand tons. Statistically, as of July 2020, there are more than 13.7 thousand honey producers in Argentina, of which nearly 4.3 thousand are in the province of Buenos Aires. Entre Ríos ranks second, with a population of about 2.5 thousand honey producers.
5.Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in the European region that has the largest honey production in the world. In 2021, Ukraine’s honey production reached 68 thousand tons. In addition to meeting domestic needs, honey from Ukraine is also intended for the export market. As one of the mainstay sectors of Ukraine, the bee industry in this country has grown by involving 70 thousand Ukrainians or about 1% of the Ukrainian population involved in this sector.
6.India
In 2021, honey production in India reached 66 thousand tons. In this Mahatma Gandhi’s home country, honey production grew rapidly in the 1990s. Therefore, India started exporting its honey to several countries in Asia and Europe. In terms of bee species, there are several types of bees used for honey production, namely Apis dorsata, Apis cerana indica, Apis florea, Apis mellifera, and Tetragonula iridipennis.
7.Russia
In 2021, Russia’s honey production reached 64 thousand tons. With this production, this country is also able to export its honey to several countries in the world such as China, Belarus, and the United States.
8.Mexico
In 2021, Mexico’s honey production reached 62,000 tons. Mexico’s honey production area is spread across several states such as Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo, Jalisco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla, and Michoacán.
9.United States of America
The United States is the next country with the largest honey production in the world. In 2021, honey production reached 57 thousand tons. Moreover, regarding the area of honey production, there are several states in the United States which are the largest areas of honey production. These states include North Dakota, Montana, California, South Dakota, and Florida.
10. Brazil
Brazil is the 10th biggest producer of Honey in 2021. Geograhpically, in Brazil, natural honey ussually comes from the Northeast region of the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil.
11.Canada
Canada is a country in the Americas that has an abundance of honey. Furthermore, In 2019, Canada’s honey production reached 80 thousand tons, based on data from the United Nations FAO. The provinces of Ontario and British Columbia are the 2 main provinces that have the largest honey growers in the Canadian Territory. In the province of Ontario, it is estimated that there are about 3 thousand beekeepers. While in the province of British Columbia, the population of farmers is around 2 thousand people.
However, in terms of Canada’s national honey production, the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are the main contributors to honey in Canada. In this country, honey production in Alberta Province reaches 34 thousand tons, Saskatchewan 16 thousand tons, and Manitoba at 14 thousand tons. In addition to meeting domestic needs, honey from Canada is also exported to various countries such as the United States, Japan, and China.
Reference Source 10 Largest Honey-Producing Countries in the World
Zheng, Huo-Qing & Wei, Wen-Ting & Hu, Fu-Liang. 2015. Beekeeping Industry in China. Bee World. 88: 41-44
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Duyum, S and S. Friedman. 2015.The Turkish Beekeeping and Honey Sector. Accessed via https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=The%20Turkish%20Beekeeping%20and%20Honey%20Sector_Ankara_Turkey_5-27-2015.pdf on July 20th, 2021
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Wikipedia. 2021. Beekeping in India. Accessed via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beekeeping_in_India on July 21st, 2021.
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