10 World’s Largest Producers of Pistachios- According to the FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), in 2023, there were 10 world’s largest producers of pistachios in 2021. These countries basically have a huge production of pistachios in 2021. Commonly, pistachios can be eaten or added to a variety of dishes. Many dishes in the world used pistachios in the dishes. Nutritionally, this nut, the pistachios have some good nutritional content. This contains protein, fibre, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and vitamin A. The ratio or amount of the content can be seen in the picture below.
Taxonomically, pistachios can be classified into the following kingdoms: Plantae, Phylum: Tracheophyta, Subphylum: Spermatophytina, Class: Magnoliopsida, Superorder: Rosanae, Order: Sapindales, Family: Anacardiaceae, Genus: Pistacia L., Species: Pistacia vera L. Due to its classification as a member of the Anacardiaceae family, pistachio still has a close relationship with some plants, including cashew, mango, poison ivy, poison oak, sumac, smoke tree, and marula.
The World’s Harvested Areas and World’s Production of Pistachios From 1970 to 2021
| Years | World’s Harvested Areas of Pistachios | World’s Production of Pistachios |
|---|---|---|
| (Hectare) | Tons | |
| 1970 | 131,949 | 1,276,057 |
| 1971 | 134,532 | 1,368,640 |
| 1972 | 130,384 | 1,403,474 |
| 1973 | 133,327 | 1,368,111 |
| 1974 | 130,949 | 1,397,116 |
| 1975 | 118,563 | 1,280,066 |
| 1976 | 120,384 | 1,245,582 |
| 1977 | 117,936 | 1,155,025 |
| 1978 | 122,013 | 1,335,607 |
| 1979 | 120,446 | 1,090,391 |
| 1980 | 116,596 | 1,254,405 |
| 1981 | 119,678 | 1,164,973 |
| 1982 | 113,970 | 1,184,349 |
| 1983 | 111,975 | 1,119,356 |
| 1984 | 115,511 | 1,142,460 |
| 1985 | 111,310 | 1,016,894 |
| 1986 | 111,712 | 1,189,494 |
| 1987 | 111,193 | 1,130,040 |
| 1988 | 113,077 | 1,268,859 |
| 1989 | 117,552 | 1,348,239 |
| 1990 | 117,830 | 1,333,471 |
| 1991 | 111,855 | 1,328,720 |
| 1992 | 112,410 | 1,249,380 |
| 1993 | 111,897 | 1,170,459 |
| 1994 | 114,438 | 1,207,993 |
| 1995 | 113,442 | 1,161,779 |
| 1996 | 113,462 | 1,136,215 |
| 1997 | 114,410 | 1,254,855 |
| 1998 | 120,702 | 1,247,458 |
| 1999 | 119,783 | 1,238,239 |
| 2000 | 122,102 | 1,322,123 |
| 2001 | 118,345 | 1,247,890 |
| 2002 | 121,130 | 1,264,269 |
| 2003 | 122,182 | 1,261,553 |
| 2004 | 121,117 | 1,348,059 |
| 2005 | 124,766 | 1,258,848 |
| 2006 | 129,191 | 1,394,853 |
| 2007 | 132,016 | 1,466,484 |
| 2008 | 128,740 | 1,462,275 |
| 2009 | 128,521 | 1,481,363 |
| 2010 | 125,709 | 1,433,378 |
| 2011 | 127,641 | 1,476,939 |
| 2012 | 123,207 | 1,556,551 |
| 2013 | 127,020 | 1,549,828 |
| 2014 | 126,252 | 1,512,560 |
| 2015 | 114,845 | 1,388,584 |
| 2016 | 120,231 | 1,343,108 |
| 2017 | 126,648 | 1,587,931 |
| 2018 | 122,388 | 1,556,662 |
| 2019 | 119,135 | 1,503,260 |
| 2020 | 114,141 | 1,438,701 |
| 2021 | 116,350 | 1,470,332 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | ||
According to the FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the agronomic conditions of pistachios are stable. It can be tracked using data from 1970 to 2021. In the year 1970, the world’s harvested area of pistachios was 131,949 hectares (Ha), and the world’s production was around 1,276,057 tons. After more than 50 years, especially in 2021, the world’s harvested areas were reduced to 116,350 hectares, but the world’s production had increased to 1,470,332 tons.
The Production of Pistachios in 2021 Based on Continent
| Continent | Production of Pistachios in 2021 |
|---|---|
| (Tons) | |
| Africa | 8,713 |
| Americas | 524,000 |
| Asia | 381,494 |
| Oceania | 1,511 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
In continental statistics, the production of of pistachios in 2021 had spread out in several regions. The Americas continent still became the largest areas with output of Pistachios nut reached 524 thousand tons and Asia in the second with production was around 381 thousand tons. Meanwhile, Africa and Oceania have small production with output of pistachio nuts around 8.7 thousand tons and 1.5 thousand tons, respectively.
Specifically, based on country’s area, there were some largest producers of Pistachios. Here is the rank of 10 World’s Largest Producers of Pistachios in 2021.
The World’s Largest Producers of Pistachios in 2021
| Ranks | Countries | Production of Pistachios in 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | ||
| 1 | United States of America | 523,900 |
| 2 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 135,000 |
| 3 | Türkiye | 119,355 |
| 4 | China, mainland | 78,818 |
| 5 | Syrian Arab Republic | 43,104 |
| 6 | Madagascar | 5,540 |
| 7 | Tunisia | 3,123 |
| 8 | Afghanistan | 2,788 |
| 9 | Australia | 1,511 |
| 10 | Kyrgyzstan | 929 |
| Source: FAOSTAT, 2023 | ||
Brief Description of 10 World’s Largest Producers of Pistachios in 2021
1. United States of America
United States of America still became the largest producers of Pistachios in 2023. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Pistachios from USA reached 523,900 tons in 2021. Geographically, in USA, California still became the main cultivation areas of pistaschios followed by Arizona and New Mexico. In USA, there are some cultivars of Pistachios. Some of them are ‘Kerman’ and ‘Golden Hills’ (Badenes et al., 2012).
2. Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iran also one of the biggest producers of Pistachios in 2021. Statistically, according to FAO Statistical Corporate Database, the production of Pistachios in Iran reached 135,000 tons. In Iran, some cultivation areas of Pistachios can be mostly found in Kerman province contributing and Rafsanjan (Razavi, 2005). Genetically, some of the pistachios cultivars in Iran are kbary’, ‘Ahmad Aghaii’, ‘Daneshmandi’, ‘Kalle Ghoochi 1’, ‘Kalle Ghoochi 2’, ‘Garmeh’, ‘Ohadi 1’, ‘Ohadi 2’, ‘Sefid’, ‘Momtaz (Davaryneyjad et al, 2012)
3. Türkiye
Turkiye is the 3rd world’s biggest producers of Pistachios in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of pistachios from Turkiye reached 119,355 tons. Geographically, in Türkiye, the cultivation areas of Pistachios were in Sanliurfa, Gaziantep, K. Maras, Adiyaman and Siirt. Meanwhile, the biggest orchard of Pistachios in Turkiye located in Ceylanpinar State Farm with the size around 3.5 thousand ha (Kaska, 1994).
4. China, mainland
China was the 4th largest producers of Pistachios in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Pistachios from China reached 78,818 tons. In China, some of Pistachios can be found in Xinjiang province.
5. Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic has huge production of Pistachios. Statistically, the production of Pistachios from Syrian Arab Republic reached 43,104 tons. Genetically, some of varieties of pistachios in Syria were Ashoury, Red Jalab, Entaby 2, Red Oleimy, Batoury, Nab Al-Djamal, White Ashoury, Ajamy and Sen Al feel (Basha, 2012)
6. Madagascar
Madagascar had become 6th world’s largest of Pistachios in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database in 2021, the production of Pistachios from Madagascar reached 5,540 tons.
7. Tunisia
Tunisia has huge production of Pistachios in 2021. Statistically, the production of Pistachios from Tunisia reached 3,123 tons. Geographically, in Tunisia, some cultivation areas of Pistachios located in Sfax Region, Sidi Bouzid, and other regions in Tunisia (Ghrab et al., 2010).
8. Afghanistan
Afghanistan is the 8th world largest of Pistachios in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Database (FAOSTA) in 2021, the world’s production of Pistachios from Afghanistan reached 2,788 tons. In Afghanistan, some pistachios cultivation can be found in Badghis, Baghlan, Samangan, Herat, Takhar (Said, 2008).
9. Australia
Australia is the 9th world’s largest of Pistachios in 2021. Statistically, in 2021, Australis has produced 1,511 tons of Pistachios in 2021. In Australia, most cultivation areas of Pistachios can be found in the river Murray valley and small numbers of growers located in central New South Wales and Western Australia. Genetically, one of the cultivars of Pistachios in Australia was Sirora.
10. Kyrgyzstan
In the year of 2021, Kyrgyzstan has produced 929 tons of Pistachios in 2021. Geographically, in Kyrgyzstan, the Pistachios trees can be found in the Fergana Mountain Range.
The Summary of 10 World’s Largest Producers of Pistachios
Bibliography of 10 World’s Largest Producers of Pistachios
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FAOSTAT. 2023. Pistachios 2021. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize on November 4th, 2023.
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Razavi, S. H. (2005). Pistachio production, Iran vs. the world. In IV International Symposium on Pistachios and Almonds 726 (pp. 689-694).
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Basha, A.I, Padulosi, S., Chabane, K., Hadj-Hassan, A., Dulloo, E., Pagnotta, M. A., & Porceddu, E. (2007). Genetic diversity of Syrian pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) varieties evaluated by AFLP markers. Genetic resources and crop evolution, 54, 1807-1816.
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