Rice is one of the most important cereals and food items in the world. Half of the world’s population depends on rice . There are currently tens of thousands of different varieties of rice in the world, but these fall into two general biological species.

The main varieties of rice include Asian rice with the scientific name Oryza sativa and African rice with the scientific name Oryza glaberrima. Wild rice varieties are also generally classified in the gens Zizania and Porteresia, and rice is the third largest agricultural crop in the world in terms of production, after sugarcane and corn.

Production & Trade

In 2018, rice global production was 782 million tons, 50% of which belonged to China and India.

Other major producers are Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam

Top 10 countries in rice production in the world

About 90% of the world’s rice  consume by these countries, which are themselves among the top producers. Both rice production and rice consumption have been on the rise over the past two decades, and experts believe there will be little reduction in these figures in the coming years.

India: The world’s first rice producer

China: The second largest rice producer in the world

Indonesia: The third largest rice producer in the world

Bangladesh: The fourth largest rice producer in the world

Vietnam: The fifth largest rice producer in the world

Myanmar: The sixth largest rice producer in the world

Thailand: The seventh largest rice producer in the world

Philippines: The eighth largest rice producer in the world

Brazil: The ninth most produced rice producer in the world

Japan: The 10th largest rice producer in the world

Pakistan: The 11th largest rice producer in the world

Iran is the world’s highest quality rice producer.

But in Iran, Iranian rice with its own scent is distinct from other rice in the world.