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Top 5 Peanut-Producing Countries in the World: Global Production Explained
Introduction
Peanuts are one of the most widely grown food and oilseed crops in the world. They are eaten as roasted or boiled snacks, used to make peanut butter and peanut oil, and added to many traditional foods.
But which countries produce the most peanuts?
Peanut production is spread across Asia, Africa and the Americas, but a small group of countries accounts for a large share of global output. Based on 2024 FAOSTAT data, China, India, Nigeria, the United States and Myanmar were the five largest peanut-producing countries. Global groundnut production reached about 57.56 million tonnes in 2024.
In this blog, we look at the top 5 peanut producing countries, their production levels and why peanuts are important to their agricultural economies.
Top 5 Peanut-Producing Countries in the World
| Rank | Country | Peanut production in 2024 |
| 1 | China | 19.61 million tonnes |
| 2 | India | 11.95 million tonnes |
| 3 | Nigeria | 4.30 million tonnes |
| 4 | United States | 2.93 million tonnes |
| 5 | Myanmar | 1.72 million tonnes |
1. China
China is the world’s largest peanut-producing country.
In 2024, China produced approximately 19.61 million tonnes of groundnuts, accounting for about 34% of global production. Its large production comes from a combination of extensive cultivation, suitable growing conditions and established peanut farming systems.
Peanuts are used in China in several ways. They are eaten as snacks, used in cooking and processed into products such as peanut oil and other food ingredients.
China’s large domestic food market also creates considerable demand for peanuts. This makes peanut production important not only for farmers but also for food processing and related industries.
2. India
India is the second-largest peanut-producing country in the world.
India produced around 11.95 million tonnes of groundnuts in 2024, representing about 20.75% of global production.
Groundnuts are an important oilseed crop in India. They are grown in several agricultural regions and are used for direct consumption as well as processing.
Indian households use peanuts in many familiar foods, including roasted groundnuts, chutneys, snacks and sweets. Peanut oil is also used as a cooking oil in parts of the country.
India’s position as a major producer has remained important to the country’s edible-oil and food sectors. NITI Aayog, using FAOSTAT data, has also identified India as the world’s second-largest producer of groundnuts excluding shelled peanuts in its 2022–23 comparison.
3. Nigeria
Nigeria ranked third among the world’s largest peanut-producing countries in 2024.
Its production was approximately 4.30 million tonnes, or about 7.47% of global groundnut production.
Groundnuts are an important agricultural crop in Nigeria. They are grown mainly for food and processing, with uses including roasted peanuts, peanut-based foods and oil.
Peanut farming also provides an important source of income for agricultural communities. As with other major producing countries, production can vary depending on weather, rainfall, cultivated area and farming conditions.
4. United States
The United States produced around 2.93 million tonnes of peanuts in 2024, placing it fourth among the world’s major peanut producers.
Peanuts are commercially grown in several states, particularly across the southern United States. The crop supplies a well-established food industry that produces peanut butter, roasted peanuts, confectionery and other peanut-based products.
The U.S. is also notable for its peanut productivity. Production depends not only on the amount of land planted but also on factors such as seed varieties, irrigation, farm machinery and crop management.
This makes the United States a useful example of how agricultural technology and farm productivity can influence total production.
5. Myanmar
Myanmar was the fifth-largest peanut-producing country in 2024, producing approximately 1.72 million tonnes of groundnuts.
Peanuts are an important crop in Myanmar and are used for both food and oil production.
The country’s warm growing conditions support peanut cultivation, while domestic consumption gives farmers a local market for their crops.
Myanmar’s place among the top five producers also shows that major peanut production is not limited to the largest economies. Agricultural conditions, available farmland and local farming practices all play a role.
Why Do These Countries Produce So Many Peanuts?
There is no single reason why a country becomes a major peanut producer. Several factors work together.
Peanuts generally grow well in warm conditions. A suitable growing season, adequate moisture and appropriate soil conditions can help farmers produce good yields.
Countries with substantial areas available for crop cultivation can produce large quantities of peanuts. However, land area is only part of the picture because yield also matters.
Seed varieties, irrigation, pest management, machinery and other agricultural practices can affect how much peanuts farmers harvest from a given area.
Peanuts have many uses. They can be eaten directly, roasted, processed into peanut butter, pressed for oil or used as an ingredient in other foods.
When domestic demand is strong, peanut farming can become an important part of the agricultural and food-processing sectors.
Are Peanuts and Groundnuts the Same?
Yes. Peanuts and groundnuts generally refer to the same crop.
“Peanut” is commonly used in everyday food and consumer language, while “groundnut” is widely used in agricultural and statistical contexts.
The plant has an unusual growth habit. After flowering, the developing pods grow underground, where the peanut seeds mature inside the shell.
This is also why production statistics often refer to “groundnuts in shell.”
Which Country Produces the Most Peanuts?
China produces the most peanuts in the world.
According to 2024 data, China produced approximately 19.61 million tonnes, considerably more than India’s 11.95 million tonnes. Nigeria followed with 4.30 million tonnes.
Together, China and India accounted for more than half of global groundnut production in 2024.
Does Peanut Production Change Every Year?
Yes. Peanut production can change from one year to another.
Weather conditions, rainfall, drought, pests, disease, planted area and crop yields can all affect production. Changes in farming practices and agricultural technology can also influence output.
For this reason, a country’s position in the top peanut-producing countries can change over time.
It is therefore useful to mention the year when discussing global production figures. The FAOSTAT crop production dataset currently provides annual production, harvested-area and yield data through 2024.
Global Peanut Production
Peanuts are grown in more than 100 countries, covering tropical, subtropical and some warm-temperate regions. In 2024, global groundnut production was approximately 57.56 million tonnes, with around 31.16 million hectares under production.
The five leading producers—China, India, Nigeria, the United States and Myanmar—together produced a large portion of the world’s peanuts.
Other countries also contribute significantly to global production, including several countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Their production levels can vary from year to year.
Final Thoughts: Top 5 Peanut Producing Countries in the World
The Top 5 Peanut Producing Countries in the World show how important peanuts are to agriculture and food production across different regions. China and India are the two largest producers, followed by Nigeria, the United States and Myanmar.
In 2024, China produced about 19.61 million tonnes of peanuts, while India produced around 11.95 million tonnes. Nigeria, the United States and Myanmar completed the top five.
These peanut production rankings are a useful snapshot of global production, but they should always be considered alongside the specific year. Weather, farming conditions, harvested area and crop yields can cause production levels to change from one season to another.
For reliable comparisons of global peanut production, FAOSTAT provides country-level data on production, harvested area and yield. This makes it a useful reference when looking at how peanut production changes around the world.
