Tomatoes led world vegetable production with 188.50 million tonnes in 2024, ahead of dry onions and watermelons, according to FAOSTAT.
Tomatoes are the world's most produced vegetable, with 188.50 million tonnes in 2024. Dry onions and shallots are second at 108.26 million tonnes and watermelons third at 104.96 million tonnes. The ranking uses FAOSTAT world production of FAO's individual vegetable items for 2024, in tonnes.
China (mainland) was the largest producer of eight of the ten vegetables on this list in 2024, including 78.1% of the world's cucumbers and gherkins and 94.2% of its mushrooms and truffles. India led in dry onions, narrowly, and in pumpkins, squash and gourds. This list uses one dataset and one year: FAOSTAT's production figures for 2024, the latest year with complete world totals, and FAO's own item classification. Potatoes and other roots and tubers are a separate FAO group and are not included.
Tomatoes: 188.50 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 1.6% on 2023 (185.48 million tonnes). China (mainland) was the largest producer with 61.61 million tonnes (an FAO estimate), 32.7% of the world total, followed by India with 21.32 million tonnes.
Onions and shallots, dry: 108.26 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, down 2.8% on 2023 (111.36 million tonnes). India was the largest producer with 24.27 million tonnes, 22.4% of the world total, followed by China (mainland) with 24.22 million tonnes.
Watermelons: 104.96 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 0.5% on 2023 (104.41 million tonnes). China (mainland) was the largest producer with 63.51 million tonnes (a value FAO imputed), 60.5% of the world total, followed by India with 3.72 million tonnes. FAO classifies watermelons as a vegetable item, although FAOSTAT's 'Fruit Primary' total counts them.
Cucumbers and gherkins: 87.84 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 0.5% on 2023 (87.41 million tonnes). China (mainland) was the largest producer with 68.59 million tonnes (an FAO estimate), 78.1% of the world total, followed by India with 2.05 million tonnes.
Cabbages: 75.48 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 0.7% on 2023 (74.97 million tonnes). China (mainland) was the largest producer with 36.20 million tonnes (a value FAO imputed), 48.0% of the world total, followed by India with 10.43 million tonnes. FAO reports cauliflowers and broccoli as a separate item, not included in this figure.
Eggplants (aubergines): 57.54 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 0.5% on 2023 (57.27 million tonnes). China (mainland) was the largest producer with 34.87 million tonnes (an FAO estimate), 60.6% of the world total, followed by India with 13.00 million tonnes.
Mushrooms and truffles: 51.60 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 3.6% on 2023 (49.82 million tonnes). China (mainland) was the largest producer with 48.61 million tonnes (a value FAO imputed), 94.2% of the world total, followed by Japan with 0.49 million tonnes.
Carrots and turnips: 45.15 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 1.9% on 2023 (44.30 million tonnes). China (mainland) was the largest producer with 19.04 million tonnes (an FAO estimate), 42.2% of the world total, followed by Uzbekistan with 3.57 million tonnes.
Chillies and peppers, green: 44.77 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 0.8% on 2023 (44.44 million tonnes). China (mainland) was the largest producer with 17.31 million tonnes (an FAO estimate), 38.7% of the world total, followed by India with 5.32 million tonnes.
Pumpkins, squash and gourds: 34.58 million tonnes worldwide in 2024, up 4.9% on 2023 (32.98 million tonnes). India was the largest producer with 9.33 million tonnes, 27.0% of the world total, followed by China (mainland) with 7.65 million tonnes.
| # | Name | Top producer (2024) | Top producer's share (our calc.) | Change vs 2023 (our calc.) | FAO flag on world figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomatoes | China (mainland) (61.61 Mt) | 32.7% | +1.6% | E (estimated value) |
| 2 | Onions and shallots, dry | India (24.27 Mt) | 22.4% | -2.8% | E (estimated value) |
| 3 | Watermelons | China (mainland) (63.51 Mt) | 60.5% | +0.5% | E (estimated value) |
| 4 | Cucumbers and gherkins | China (mainland) (68.59 Mt) | 78.1% | +0.5% | E (estimated value) |
| 5 | Cabbages | China (mainland) (36.20 Mt) | 48.0% | +0.7% | E (estimated value) |
| 6 | Eggplants (aubergines) | China (mainland) (34.87 Mt) | 60.6% | +0.5% | E (estimated value) |
| 7 | Mushrooms and truffles | China (mainland) (48.61 Mt) | 94.2% | +3.6% | E (estimated value) |
| 8 | Carrots and turnips | China (mainland) (19.04 Mt) | 42.2% | +1.9% | E (estimated value) |
| 9 | Chillies and peppers, green | China (mainland) (17.31 Mt) | 38.7% | +0.8% | E (estimated value) |
| 10 | Pumpkins, squash and gourds | India (9.33 Mt) | 27.0% | +4.9% | E (estimated value) |
Vegetables are ranked by world production in 2024 (FAOSTAT domain QCL, element Production, unit tonnes, area 'World'), from FAO's bulk download file released in December 2025; 2024 is the latest year with complete world figures. We counted as vegetables FAO's items in CPC group 012 (vegetables), which includes watermelons, cantaloupes and other melons, and mushrooms and truffles; potatoes, cassava and other roots and tubers sit in a separate group (CPC 015) and are excluded. FAOSTAT's own 'Vegetables Primary' aggregate leaves out the two melon items (its 2024 total, 1,182.10 million tonnes, equals the CPC 012 items minus watermelons and other melons, our check); without melons, watermelons would drop out and spinach would enter at #10. Items are used exactly as FAO publishes them and never combined: 'Cabbages' and 'Cauliflowers and broccoli' are separate FAO items, so nothing is counted twice. FAO aggregate items and residual 'n.e.c.' items are excluded; 'Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.' (281.49 million tonnes) pools many vegetables FAO does not report separately and would otherwise rank first. Item names are FAO's, shortened for two items (the botanical note on green chillies and peppers, and 'excluding dehydrated' on dry onions and shallots). Values are million tonnes rounded to two decimals; ranks use unrounded tonnes and no two items tie. FAO flags the world figure for every item on this list as an estimated value (flag E). 'Top producer' uses country rows (FAOSTAT's combined 'China' row is skipped in favour of 'China, mainland'); shares and changes against 2023 are our calculations from the same file.
Tomatoes, with 188.50 million tonnes in 2024 according to FAOSTAT. China (mainland) grew 61.61 million tonnes of them.
Because FAO's item classification places watermelons in the vegetables group (CPC 01221), and this list follows FAO's classification. FAOSTAT's 'Fruit Primary' aggregate counts melons as fruit, so other FAO totals can differ.
FAO classifies potatoes as a root and tuber crop (CPC 01510), not a vegetable. With 390.43 million tonnes in 2024 they would otherwise top this list.
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