Rice Consumption by Country 2024

Rice is a dietary staple in most countries. However, it is actually part of the grass family. Asian rice, Oryza sativa, and African rice, O. glaberrima are the most common. Wild rice, from one of the four genera of Zizania, is also referred to as undomesticated rice.

Initially domesticated in the Yangtze River basin in China 13,500 years ago, rice is plentiful across Asia and Africa. A cereal grain, rice is a tropical crop growing in both dry and wet seasons. The typical method of cultivating rice is to flood a planted field, commonly known as a rice patty. This waters and protects the plant from vermin and disease.

The plant itself has a long, wind-pollinated greenish-yellow stem. The flower's seeds are the edible cereal. Rice is classified by grain length as long, medium, or short. Rice contains water, protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and a small fat percentage. The grain's nutrients vary by type - wild, white, brown, red, purple, or black.

This versatile grain ranks third in worldwide production, following sugarcane and maize. However, it is an essential world commodity for basic nutrition and calories. Global rice consumption continues to increase - surpassing roughly 520 million metric tons. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, over 50% of the world's population relies on rice in their daily diet - providing roughly 20% of the world's calories.

Rice is cooked by boiling or steaming. Arabian dishes use rice in soups and with fish, poultry, or lamb. Rice is also the main ingredient in a porridge known as congee.

Bangladesh tops the region in rice consumption at 257.48 kg per person consumed annually. This rice diet stems from a long-standing tradition regional and cultural tradition.

Other countries that consume large quantities of rice annually include Cambodia - 249.30 kg per person per year, and Laos - 241.35 kg. Vietnam is the fourth-highest consumer of rice products at 204.16 kilograms per person.

The countries with the next highest rice consumption per capita are the Philippines 190.31 kg, Myanmar 188.83 kg, and the peoples of Sri Lanka 181.67 kg. Rounding out the top ten list of countries that have a rice-centric diet are Bhutan 168.91 kg and Thailand 168.22 kg. In comparison, Americans consume only 12.2 kg per person yearly. Serbia consumes the least amount of rice annually at 1.2 kg per person.