The world's most abundant crops, ranked by annual global production tonnage.
Quick answer: 1. Sugarcane, 2. Maize (Corn), 3. Wheat, 4. Rice (paddy), 5. Soybeans, 6. Potatoes, 7. Cassava, 8. Oil Palm Fruit, 9. Sugar Beet, 10. Tomatoes.
Agriculture feeds a global population of over 8 billion people, and a handful of crops account for the vast majority of calories consumed worldwide. This list ranks the ten most produced crops by total annual tonnage, drawing on the latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Sugarcane leads by a wide margin due to its enormous water content and weight, but the staple grains — maize, rice, and wheat — dominate global food supply.
Sugarcane is the world's most produced crop by a wide margin, with over 1.9 billion tonnes harvested annually. It is grown primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, with Brazil and India accounting for more than half of global production. The crop's high water weight (it is about 70–75% water) heavily inflates its tonnage compared to dry grains.
Maize is the most produced grain crop in the world, with approximately 1.2 billion tonnes per year. The United States alone produces about 30% of the global supply, mostly grown across the Midwest corn belt. While maize is a dietary staple in many countries, over 40% of global production is used for animal feed, and a growing share goes to ethanol biofuel production.
Wheat is the most widely cultivated cereal crop by area and the primary grain for bread, pasta, and baked goods throughout Europe, North America, and Central Asia. Annual production stands at approximately 790 million tonnes. Wheat is well adapted to temperate climates and is grown on every continent except Antarctica.
Paddy rice is the staple food for more than half of the world's population. Global production exceeds 780 million tonnes of paddy (unmilled) rice annually. China and India together account for over 50% of production. Rice is unique among major grains in being primarily grown in flooded paddy fields, which require large amounts of water.
Soybeans are the most produced oilseed crop globally, with about 390 million tonnes per year. They are a uniquely versatile crop: approximately 70% of production is crushed into soybean meal (used as high-protein animal feed) and soybean oil (used for cooking and biodiesel). The United States, Brazil, and Argentina dominate production.
Potatoes are the world's most important non-grain food crop by tonnage, with approximately 375 million tonnes harvested annually. They are a high-yield crop, producing more calories per unit of land than most grains. China and India are now the largest potato producers, though the crop originated in the Andes of South America.
Cassava (also known as manioc or yuca) is a tropical root crop that is a dietary staple for over 800 million people, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It produces about 320 million tonnes annually. Cassava is highly drought-tolerant and can grow in poor soils where other crops fail, making it a critical food security crop for many developing nations.
Oil palm fruit is the raw material for palm oil, the most widely consumed vegetable oil on Earth. Global production is approximately 290 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunches, with Indonesia and Malaysia accounting for over 80% of output. Palm oil is used extensively in processed foods, cosmetics, and biodiesel, and its production has been linked to deforestation in tropical rainforests.
Sugar beet provides about 20% of the world's sugar supply (the rest comes from sugarcane) and is grown primarily in temperate regions of Europe, North America, and Russia. Annual production totals approximately 250 million tonnes. Sugar beets are biennial plants harvested in their first year for their high-sucrose taproots.
Tomatoes are the most produced fruit or vegetable crop by tonnage, with approximately 190 million tonnes harvested annually. They are grown worldwide, with China, India, and Turkey as the top producers. A significant portion of the harvest is processed into sauces, pastes, and canned products. Botanically a fruit but treated as a vegetable in culinary contexts, tomatoes have the highest per-tonnage production of any crop that is consumed predominantly fresh or processed.
| # | Name | Primary producers | Harvested area (million ha) | Primary use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sugarcane | Brazil, India, China, Thailand | ~26 | Sugar, ethanol |
| 2 | Maize (Corn) | USA, China, Brazil, Argentina | ~197 | Animal feed, food, biofuels |
| 3 | Wheat | China, India, Russia, USA | ~220 | Human consumption (flour, bread, pasta) |
| 4 | Rice (paddy) | China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia | ~165 | Human consumption (direct) |
| 5 | Soybeans | Brazil, USA, Argentina, China | ~130 | Animal feed, vegetable oil, human food |
| 6 | Potatoes | China, India, Ukraine, Russia | ~17 | Human consumption (direct, processed) |
| 7 | Cassava | Nigeria, DR Congo, Thailand, Ghana | ~27 | Human consumption (starch, flour, tapioca) |
| 8 | Oil Palm Fruit | Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nigeria | ~20 | Palm oil (food, cosmetics, biofuel) |
| 9 | Sugar Beet | Russia, France, Germany, USA | ~4 | Sugar production |
| 10 | Tomatoes | China, India, Turkey, USA | ~5 | Fresh consumption, processed (sauce, paste, juice) |
Ranked by total annual global production in metric tonnes. Data is from the FAO Statistical Yearbook and FAOSTAT database, 2022–2024 averages (most recent complete years). Oil crops (e.g., soybeans, palm fruit) are included where the raw harvested product is the metric; processed derivatives (e.g., vegetable oil, sugar) are not double-counted. Vegetables and fruits are reported in aggregate categories by the FAO and are excluded when the category name does not align with a single crop species.
The ranking is by raw harvest tonnage, not dry weight or caloric value. Sugarcane stalks are about 70–75% water, which makes them much heavier per hectare than dry grains. By dry weight or calorie contribution, maize and rice would be far ahead.
Yes — maize and soybeans serve triple roles as food, feed, and industrial inputs. Feed use of grains and oilseeds accounts for the largest share of agricultural land use globally, with livestock consuming about a third of all crop calories.
Wheat has slightly higher tonnage than rice in the raw data (790 vs 780 million tonnes), though the rankings between the two are very close and can flip year to year. Both are roughly equivalent in global food importance. Wheat provides about 20% of human dietary calories worldwide, on par with rice.