Chickpea Production by Country 2024

Like many foods in the legume family, chickpeas are a delicious, nutritious plant-based protein source enjoyed around the world. They’re key components in many of the world’s most beloved dishes and cuisines, as well as an important staple crop in multiple countries.

However, actual chickpea production can vary quite a bit from one country to the next according to different external factors, agricultural conditions, and so forth.

Top Chickpea-Producing Countries Around the World

Currently, chickpeas are grown in numerous regions around the world, including but not limited to multiple examples on the Indian subcontinent, across the Great Plains region of the United States, in Western Asia, and throughout the Mediterranean.

The following are some of the countries with the highest rates of chickpea production in the world as of 2023.

India

India is the world’s top chickpea producer by far. In fact, the world has Indian chickpea growers to thank for between 65 and 90 percent of the global chickpea stores each year. In 2023, India increased its farmable chickpea acreage even further, with some areas growing by 25 percent and others expanding by as much as 50 percent.

Turkey

Turkey is another of the world’s top chickpea producers and is especially notable for its cultivation of the large, high-quality Kabuli chickpea variety. As with India, favorable climate conditions and ample government support in Turkey make it an ideal place to cultivate what are considered to be some of the world’s best chickpeas.

Other countries with high annual chickpea yields include Pakistan, Mexico, Argentina, the United States, Ethiopia, Australia, Myanmar, and Russia.

Factors Influencing Chickpea Production

As with many agricultural goods, regional climate is perhaps the most important determining factor when it comes to a given country's ability to produce chickpeas. As a crop, chickpeas thrive best in places with dry summers, mild winters, and moderate average rainfall. Additional factors may include the following.

Agricultural Investment

All crops thrive best in countries with ample access to modern irrigation methods and up-to-date agricultural techniques, as well as high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and equipment. Countries willing and able to invest in these things see higher chickpea yields.

Local Dietary Preferences

Countries demonstrating high rates of chickpea production also tend to be countries where chickpeas are considered critical parts of the local diet. India, Pakistan, and Turkey are all key examples, as chickpeas are considered important dietary staples there.

Other factors that may influence a country’s annual chickpea production include but may not be limited to government incentives, current market demand, commitment to agricultural research, and ability to adequately manage local pests.