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Journalism of Courage
Largest Tobacco Producing Countries: Tobacco use remains one of the gravest public health threats the world has ever faced, claiming over eight million lives annually. Of these, more than seven million deaths result from direct tobacco use, according to the Global Burden of Disease study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
Despite widespread awareness of its health risks, the raw tobacco industry continues to thrive. In 2022, an estimated 5.8 million tonnes of tobacco were produced globally, with China accounting for roughly one-third of this output, according to Statista.
However, smoking is reported to be relatively occasional in China – 42 per cent of respondents in a Statista Consumer Insights survey said they smoked only occasionally, followed by similar trends in Germany, Spain, and the United States of America.
In the same year, India and Brazil produced approximately 0.8 million and 0.7 million tonnes of unmanufactured tobacco respectively, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
To raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and advocate for effective control policies that encourage consumers to quit, the World Health Organisation (WHO) observes World No Tobacco Day every year on May 31. The theme for 2025 is “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference,” calling on governments to shield youth from aggressive tobacco marketing and reduce future addiction rates.
| Rank | Country | Unmanufactured Tobacco Production (metric tonnes) |
| 1 | China (mainland) | 2,296,700 |
| 2 | India | 769,671 |
| 3 | Brazil | 683,469 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 238,806 |
| 5 | Zimbabwe | 236,815 |
| 6 | United States of America | 196,160 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 151,858 |
| 8 | United Republic of Tanzania | 122,859 |
| 9 | Argentina | 107,880 |
| 10 | Democratic People’s Republic of Korea | 87,427 |
Source: United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAOSTAT)
India is the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of unmanufactured tobacco, with a production volume of nearly 770,000 tonnes. Despite extensive public health campaigns, tobacco use continues to be a major cause of disease and death, contributing to an estimated 1.35 million deaths annually, as per the WHO.
Tobacco products remain widely accessible and affordable in the country. Smokeless tobacco, including khaini, gutkha, and betel quid, is the most common form of tobacco consumption in India.
A Statista Consumer Insights survey conducted between January and December 2023 found that around 36 per cent of urban Indian respondents reported smoking cigarettes at least occasionally, highlighting the prevalence of smoking habits in urban areas.
