10 World’s Biggest Papaya-Producing Countries– Based on data from the FAO Statistical Database (FAOstats), there are 10 Biggest Papaya-Producing countries in the world of 2021. So far, as we know, papaya plants are known as fruit plants belonging to the Caricaceae family. Based on its history, this plant comes from South America. In general, papaya plants are widely planted by people, both in the tropics and subtropics. The use of papaya plants also varies. Papaya fruit is consumed by its flesh because of its sweet taste. In addition, the young papaya flesh can also be cooked as a vegetable, while the young leaves can also be used as vegetables and medicine.


Taxonomically, this plant belongs to the Kingdom: Plantae; Subkingdom: Tracheobionta; Super Division: Spermatophyta; Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Magnoliopsida; Subclass: Dilleniidae; Order: Caricales; Family: Caricaceae; Genus: Carica; Species: Carica papaya L. So far, papaya is in great demand by the world community because of its refreshing and sweet taste. In addition, bitter papaya leaves can be used as medicine.


In the year 2019, the world’s production of papaya fruit reached 13.7 million tons with a harvested area of 460 thousand hectares. Based on continental production, the central area of papaya production is still dominated by the Asian continent with production in 2019 reaching 7.7 million tons, followed by the Americas with the production of 4.4 million tons and Africa with 1.4 million tons.
The World’s Production and Harvested Areas of Papayas From 1980 to 2021
Years | World’s Harvested Areas | World’s Production of Papaya | Yield |
---|---|---|---|
(Hectare) | (Tonnes) | (Tonnes/ Hectare) | |
1980 | 194,684 | 2,460,987 | 12.641 |
1981 | 198,643 | 2,412,294 | 12.144 |
1982 | 205,447 | 2,520,611 | 12.269 |
1983 | 199,840 | 2,590,353 | 12.962 |
1984 | 219,727 | 3,198,491 | 14.557 |
1985 | 220,908 | 3,158,263 | 14.297 |
1986 | 242,454 | 3,641,078 | 15.018 |
1987 | 232,435 | 3,307,700 | 14.231 |
1988 | 242,597 | 3,662,478 | 15.097 |
1989 | 227,419 | 3,145,339 | 13.831 |
1990 | 236,158 | 3,291,518 | 13.938 |
1991 | 254,947 | 4,035,259 | 15.828 |
1992 | 255,787 | 4,355,914 | 17.029 |
1993 | 279,984 | 5,066,302 | 18.095 |
1994 | 304,986 | 5,528,621 | 18.127 |
1995 | 303,813 | 5,743,356 | 18.904 |
1996 | 314,890 | 5,492,571 | 17.443 |
1997 | 337,866 | 6,487,984 | 19.203 |
1998 | 349,730 | 6,752,663 | 19.308 |
1999 | 345,789 | 6,990,839 | 20.217 |
2000 | 353,518 | 7,326,484 | 20.725 |
2001 | 361,123 | 8,726,641 | 24.165 |
2002 | 360,304 | 8,606,381 | 23.886 |
2003 | 358,346 | 8,376,846 | 23.376 |
2004 | 360,980 | 8,900,484 | 24.656 |
2005 | 370,434 | 8,447,575 | 22.805 |
2006 | 356,937 | 9,322,297 | 26.117 |
2007 | 371,193 | 9,835,460 | 26.497 |
2008 | 390,975 | 10,338,980 | 26.444 |
2009 | 391,587 | 10,875,208 | 27.772 |
2010 | 404,074 | 11,089,385 | 27.444 |
2011 | 411,476 | 11,623,295 | 28.248 |
2012 | 423,942 | 12,385,739 | 29.216 |
2013 | 427,795 | 12,734,025 | 29.767 |
2014 | 433,980 | 13,146,121 | 30.292 |
2015 | 418,596 | 12,618,205 | 30.144 |
2016 | 455,166 | 13,434,806 | 29.516 |
2017 | 448,539 | 13,418,053 | 29.915 |
2018 | 465,179 | 13,798,774 | 29.663 |
2019 | 470,593 | 14,210,842 | 30.198 |
2020 | 481,192 | 14,186,675 | 29.482 |
2021 | 486,161 | 14,097,721 | 28.998 |
Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 |
If you look at the production of each country in 2019, there are 10 Biggest Papaya-Producing Countries in the World of 2019. Here is a list of the 10 World’s Biggest Papaya-Producing Countries in 2019 According to data from the FAO Statistical Database (FAO Stats) of the United Nations (UN).
Ranking of the 10 World’s Biggest Papaya-Producing Countries in 2021
Ranks | Country | Production of Papayas in 2021 |
---|---|---|
(Tonnes) | ||
1 | India | 5,540,000 |
2 | Brazil | 1,256,703 |
3 | Indonesia | 1,168,266 |
4 | Dominican Republic | 1,156,667 |
5 | Mexico | 1,134,753 |
6 | Nigeria | 895,054 |
7 | China, mainland | 550,000 |
8 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 211,046 |
9 | Peru | 189,801 |
10 | Philippines | 165,912 |
Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 |
Brief Description of the World’s Top 10 Papaya-Producing Countries in 2021


1.India
India is still the world’s biggest papaya producer in 2019. Based on data from the FAO Statistical Database in 2019, India’s papaya production reached 6.05 million tons. In this country, the center of papaya cultivation spread over in several states, namely Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Orissa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. In India, there are several popular papaya cultivars that are widely cultivated, namely Dwarf Pusa, Majesty Pusa, Gaint Pusa, Delicious Pusa, and Mahabindu.
2. Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic became the 2nd biggest papaya-producing country in the world in 2019. Based on data from the FAO Statistical Database in 2019, the Dominican Republic’s papaya production reached 1.17 million tons. In this country, papaya is known as “lechoza” which is widely grown in almost all areas of the island.
3. Brazil
Brazil is the 3rd Biggest papaya producer in the world of 2019. Papaya production in this South American region reaches 1.16 million tons. In this Samba country, the popular papaya cultivars in Brazil are Golden and Formosa. Geographically, the largest papaya plantations are around the state of Espírito Santo and in the northeastern region of the country.
4. Mexico
Mexico is the 4th biggest papaya-producing country in the world of 2019. Mexico’s papaya production reaches 1.08 million tons. In this country, geographically, there are several areas of papaya plantations such as Cotaxtla, Tabasco, and Veracruz with several well-known papaya cultivars namely Maradol and Zapote. In this country, papaya production is also exported to foreign countries.
5. Indonesia
Indonesia is the 5th biggest papaya-producing country in the world of 2019. Papaya production in this Southeast Asian country reaches 986 thousand tons. In this country, geographically, the center of papaya cultivation is in Java island. Jawa Timur (East Java) province became the largest contributor of Indonesian papaya with production reaching 268 thousand tons, followed by Jawa Tengah (Central Java) province with production reaching 120 thousand tons and Jawa Barat (West Java) with production reaching 99 thousand tons. In Indonesia, the famous papaya cultivars are California, Thailand, and Red Lady.
6. Nigeria
Nigeria is the 6th biggest papaya-producing country in the world of 2019. According to data from FAO, this African country’s papaya production reaches 855 thousand tons. Some of the papaya plantation areas are in areas such as In Ibadan, southwest Nigeria. In this area, papaya trees are intercropped with okra, watermelon, sweet potato, and several other types of plants.
7. the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congo is the 7th biggest papaya-producing country in the world of 2019. Papaya production in the Congo country reaches 212 thousand tons. In this country, papaya is one of the popular commodities
8. Venezuela (the Bolivarian Republic of)
Venezuela is the 8th biggest papaya-producing country in the world of 2019. According to data from FAO, Venezuela’s papaya production reached 199 thousand tons.
9. Cuba
Cuba is the 9th biggest papaya-producing country in the world in 2019. Cuba’s papaya production reaches 184,342 tons. In this country, papaya is one of the popular commodities besides plantains and bananas. In terms of trade, papaya in Cuba is also exported to several countries such as the United States.
10. Peru
Peru is the 10th biggest papaya-producing country in the world of 2019. According to data from FAO, Peru’s papaya production reached 171 thousand tons. In this country, mountain papaya is widely produced. Papaya from Peru which is quite famous is Papaya Andina.
Bibliography 10 World’s Biggest Papaya-Producing Countries
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