Wool Production by Country 2024

Wool is one of the world's most popular and versatile fabrics. But it requires the space and resources to raise wool-bearing animals, along with the industrial capacity to process it. Certain countries and regions stand out for wool production, while others lag behind.

The world's top wool producer is China. The industrial powerhouse puts out 356,216 tons of the material yearly. The massive, billion-plus citizen nation is followed closely by the much lower population Australia, which produces 348,608 tons annually. Its neighbor, New Zealand, comes in a distant third with an estimated 125,772 tons. The presence of Australia and New Zealand at the top of the list, despite their smaller size, is evidence of the significant role sheep and wool production play in these nations. This is followed by another steep drop to fourth, with Turkey producing 85,916 tons and the United Kingdom in fifth, putting out 70,448. Out of the top ten nations, Asia is home to the most, with the Australian region and Africa also represented.

Among the world's wool-producing nations, a few barely make an impact on global output. These include Malaysia (165 tons), Mali (277), Nepal (584), and Myanmar (782.) Once again, Asia is the most common region among low producers, with Bangladesh also making the bottom ten. However, North America (Canada, Mexico), South America (Colombia), Africa (Mali, Kenya), and Europe (Ukraine) also show up at the bottom of the ranks.

Differences in wool production can be related to a variety of factors, from space and suitability for animal raising to local clothing customs, which may or may not use the fabric. In addition, it's vital to remember that this data is a mix of officially provided data and estimated or imputed numbers. Additionally, some nations may produce no wool commercially or at such a low volume that measurement is impossible.