The world produced about 985 million tonnes of milk in 2024 (FAOSTAT), and FAO estimates that output passed 1 billion tonnes for the first time in 2025. About 81% is cow milk and about 15.5% buffalo milk; India is by far the largest producer, and less than a tenth of the world's milk is traded internationally. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook projects production to grow by about 2% a year to roughly 1,223 million tonnes in 2035, with India supplying more than half of the increase.
Reviewed by John Watson FIFST, dairy technologist and founder of Watson Dairy Consulting.
Figures on this page come from the official sources named under each table, as at the dates given. Sources revise their data, so the latest figures may differ.
World milk production
The world produced about 985 million tonnes (Mt) of milk in 2024, according to FAOSTAT, the statistical database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). That is about 23% more than in 2014, an average increase of roughly 2.1% a year. FAO's latest market assessment estimates that output passed 1 billion tonnes for the first time in 2025, at about 1,004 Mt, and forecasts growth of about 1% in 2026. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook gives a similar figure for 2025: 1,005 Mt, up 2.1% on the year.
| Year | World production (Mt) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 798.4 | FAOSTAT data |
| 2016 | 823.7 | FAOSTAT data |
| 2018 | 868.8 | FAOSTAT data |
| 2020 | 919.5 | FAOSTAT data |
| 2022 | 953.2 | FAOSTAT data |
| 2023 | 971.4 | FAOSTAT data |
| 2024 | 984.8 | FAOSTAT data (latest year) |
| 2025 | about 1,004 | FAO estimate |
| 2026 | about 1,013 | FAO forecast |
Source: FAO, FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products, 2014–2024 data (accessed November 2026); FAO Food Outlook, June 2026, for the 2025 estimate and 2026 forecast
World output rose in every year between 2014 and 2024. FAOSTAT revises earlier years when countries send updated figures, so numbers for past years can change slightly from one release to the next.
Milk production by species
Cows supply most of the world's milk, but buffalo milk is a large and growing share, especially in South Asia. In 2024 cattle produced about 81% of the total and buffaloes about 15.5%, while goats, sheep and camels together supplied about 3.5%.
| Species | Production (Mt) | Share of world total |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle (cow milk) | 797.3 | 81.0% |
| Buffalo | 153.0 | 15.5% |
| Goat | 20.4 | 2.1% |
| Sheep | 9.8 | 1.0% |
| Camel | 4.2 | 0.4% |
| World total | 984.8 | 100% |
Source: FAO, FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products, 2024 data (accessed November 2026)
Buffalo milk grew faster than cow milk over the decade: by about 34% between 2014 and 2024, against about 22% for cow milk. The OECD-FAO Outlook rounds the split to 81% cow, 16% buffalo and 3% for goat, sheep and camel milk combined. FAOSTAT's world total is made up of these five species only; milk from other animals, such as yaks, horses and donkeys, matters locally but is not reported separately.
Leading milk-producing countries
India is by far the largest producer, with about a quarter of world output. The 15 countries below produced about 72% of the world's milk in 2024. If the European Union is counted as a single producer, its 27 member states together produced about 162 Mt of raw milk in 2024 (Eurostat), which would make it the second-largest producer after India.
| Rank | Country | Production (Mt) | Share of world | Main dairy animals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 247.8 | 25.2% | Cow about 54%, buffalo about 43%, goat about 3% |
| 2 | United States | 102.5 | 10.4% | Cow |
| 3 | Pakistan | 66.7 | 6.8% | Mostly buffalo: buffalo about 60%, cow about 37% |
| 4 | China (mainland) | 45.4 | 4.6% | Cow about 90%, buffalo about 7% |
| 5 | Brazil | 36.9 | 3.7% | Cow |
| 6 | Germany | 33.8 | 3.4% | Cow |
| 7 | Russian Federation | 33.0 | 3.4% | Cow |
| 8 | France | 25.2 | 2.6% | Mainly cow; some goat and sheep |
| 9 | Türkiye | 22.5 | 2.3% | Mainly cow; some sheep and goat |
| 10 | New Zealand | 21.5 | 2.2% | Cow |
| 11 | Poland | 16.0 | 1.6% | Cow |
| 12 | United Kingdom | 15.9 | 1.6% | Cow |
| 13 | Bangladesh | 15.0 | 1.5% | Mainly cow (about 90%) |
| 14 | Netherlands | 14.8 | 1.5% | Mainly cow; some goat |
| 15 | Mexico | 14.1 | 1.4% | Cow |
Source: FAO, FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products, 2024 data (accessed November 2026). Figures for India, the Russian Federation and Bangladesh are FAO estimates.
Buffalo milk is central to dairying in South Asia. In Pakistan about 60% of milk comes from buffaloes, so most of its milk is buffalo milk. India is often described in the same way, but cow milk now makes up the larger part: in 2024 about 54% of India's milk came from cows and about 43% from buffaloes. Even so, India produces about 69% of the world's buffalo milk. In most of the other leading countries nearly all milk comes from cows. The exceptions are China, where about 7% is buffalo milk, and Bangladesh, where about 7% is goat milk; France, Türkiye and the Netherlands also produce some sheep or goat milk.
Production of major dairy products
Most of the world's milk is consumed as fresh products such as liquid milk, yoghurt and curd. The OECD-FAO Outlook estimates that around a quarter is processed into butter, cheese, skimmed milk powder (SMP), whole milk powder (WMP) or whey powder. There is no complete official world total for each product, but the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) tracks the main producing and trading countries.
| Product | Total for tracked countries | Leading producers |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese | 23,124 | EU 10,910; United States 6,712; Russia 1,160; Brazil 805 |
| Butter (including butteroil and anhydrous milk fat) | 12,389 | India 7,190; EU 2,150; United States 1,081; New Zealand 535 |
| Skimmed milk powder (SMP, including nonfat dry milk) | 4,871 | EU 1,530; United States 976; India 770; New Zealand 450 |
| Whole milk powder (WMP) | 4,402 | New Zealand 1,420; China 1,150; Brazil 595; EU 560 |
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Dairy: World Markets and Trade, July 2026 (2025 data; selected countries only, so these are not complete world totals)
The pattern reflects how each country uses its milk. The EU and the United States make about three-quarters of the cheese produced in the countries USDA tracks. India turns a large share of its milk into ghee, which is why it leads butter production. New Zealand, the most export-focused dairy country, dries much of its milk into WMP for shipment overseas.
Dairy trade
How much of the world's milk is traded?
Only a small part of the world's milk crosses borders, because liquid milk is perishable and mostly water. The OECD-FAO Outlook puts the traded share at less than 7%. FAO's Food Outlook gives a higher figure: world dairy trade of about 91 Mt of milk equivalent in 2025, or about 9% of production. On either measure, roughly 90% or more of the world's milk is consumed in the country where it is produced. Trade is mainly in processed products: around half of all WMP and SMP made worldwide is exported.
Leading exporters and importers
Exports are concentrated in a few places: the European Union, New Zealand and the United States are the three major exporters. Imports are spread more widely. China is the largest single importer; other large buyers include Mexico and countries in Southeast Asia and the Near East and North Africa.
Most traded dairy products
In the countries USDA tracks, exports of SMP and WMP together came to about 4.2 million tonnes (product weight) in 2025, more than cheese (3.3 million tonnes) or butter (1.2 million tonnes). FAO expects cheese to be the most dynamic part of dairy trade in 2026.
| Product | Total exports of tracked countries | Leading exporters |
|---|---|---|
| Whole milk powder | 1,874 | New Zealand 1,328; EU 178; Argentina 148 |
| Skimmed milk powder | 2,362 | EU 796; United States 675; New Zealand 409 |
| Cheese | 3,326 | EU 1,421; United States 613; New Zealand 415 |
| Butter | 1,208 | New Zealand 513; EU 270; United States 155 |
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Dairy: World Markets and Trade, July 2026 (2025 data; selected countries only, so these are not complete world totals)
On the import side, China was the largest buyer of WMP and butter in 2025, Mexico of SMP and the United Kingdom of cheese (USDA FAS).
Dairy consumption per person
FAO measures dairy consumption in milk-equivalent terms: cheese, yoghurt, milk powders and other products are converted back to the amount of milk needed to make them. On this basis, FAO's food balance sheets show an average food supply of milk and dairy products (excluding butter) of about 87 kg per person in 2023. Supply is highest in Europe and Northern America, at about 220 kg per person, and lowest in Africa and much of Asia.
| Region or country | kg per person per year |
|---|---|
| World | 87 |
| Northern America | 222 |
| Europe | 221 |
| Oceania | 145 |
| South America | 141 |
| Asia | 64 |
| Africa | 38 |
| France | 259 |
| United Kingdom | 237 |
| Germany | 227 |
| United States | 226 |
| Brazil | 163 |
| Pakistan | 130 |
| Kenya | 88 |
| India | 87 |
| China (mainland) | 35 |
| Indonesia | 15 |
| Nigeria | 4 |
Source: FAO, FAOSTAT Food Balances (2010–), item 'Milk – Excluding Butter', food supply quantity, 2023 data (FAO estimates; accessed November 2026)
These are averages of food available for consumption, not measured intake, and they leave out butter and ghee. That matters in South Asia, where much milk is made into ghee, so the figures for India and Pakistan understate total dairy use. FAO's Food Outlook uses a different milk-equivalent measure and puts world consumption at about 122 kg per person in 2025.
Outlook to 2035
The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026–2035, published in June 2026, projects world milk production to grow by about 2.0% a year, reaching about 1,223 Mt in 2035. That is faster than most other major farm commodities. Most of the extra milk is expected to come from higher yields per animal rather than larger herds.
- India is expected to supply more than half of the growth in world milk production, helped by rising yields per animal
- Africa's output is projected to grow strongly, mainly from larger herds with low yields. The region is expected to hold about 17% of the world's dairy cows and buffaloes but produce only about 4% of its milk
- Production in the EU, the second-largest producer, is expected to stay at about current levels. New Zealand's output is projected to grow by about 1.0% a year, and growth in the United States is expected to come from higher yields rather than more cows
- World consumption of fresh dairy products per person is projected to rise by about 1.9% a year, with the strongest growth in India and Pakistan. Cheese consumption per person is expected to keep rising in Europe and North America
- World dairy trade is projected to reach 13.7 Mt of products in 2035, 11% above the 2023–2025 base period. The EU, New Zealand and the United States are expected to supply nearly 70% of exports. China should remain the largest importer, while imports by Africa, Southeast Asia and the Near East and North Africa rise
In the short term, FAO expects slower growth: world milk output is forecast to rise by about 1.0% in 2026, with Asia and the Americas growing and European production slightly lower.
Dairy processing: plants and employment
Official business statistics show the size of the processing sector, although countries count it in different ways. In the EU, Eurostat counts enterprises classified to the manufacture of dairy products (NACE C10.5) and everyone working in them, including owners. In the United States, USDA counts plants that make dairy products, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counts employees in dairy product manufacturing (NAICS 3115). The figures are therefore not directly comparable.
| Country or area | Businesses | People employed | Net turnover | Data year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union (27 countries) | 13,329 enterprises | about 422,000 | not published (confidential) | 2024 |
| France | 1,515 enterprises | 94,475 | €52.5 billion | 2024 |
| Germany | 824 enterprises | 52,442 | €47.1 billion | 2024 |
| Italy | 3,003 enterprises | 51,745 | €29.7 billion | 2024 |
| Poland | 943 enterprises | 38,962 | €14.6 billion | 2024 |
| Spain | 1,651 enterprises | 33,277 | €15.4 billion | 2024 |
| Netherlands | 427 enterprises | 18,725 | €20.0 billion | 2024 |
| United States | 1,184 plants | about 169,600 employees (annual average) | not included | 2025 |
Sources: Eurostat, structural business statistics (sbs_ovw_act), NACE C10.5 Manufacture of dairy products, 2024 data (EU employment is a Eurostat estimate); USDA NASS, Dairy Products 2025 Summary, April 2026 (US plants, 2025); US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, NAICS 3115, 2025 annual average
France has by far the largest dairy-processing workforce in the EU. Italy has the most enterprises, averaging about 17 people each, while German dairy businesses average about 64 people. In the United States, 1,184 plants made at least one dairy product in 2025. Of these, 502 made cheese (excluding cottage cheese), 154 made yoghurt, 98 made butter and 43 made nonfat dry milk for human food; many plants make more than one product. US employment in dairy product manufacturing averaged about 169,600 in 2025, around a fifth higher than in 2016.
Working in the global dairy industry
Dairy offers work along the whole chain, from farm and herd management to processing, quality assurance, laboratory testing, engineering, sales and supply chain. The figures above show where the industry is largest: India, the United States and Pakistan lead on milk volume, while the EU, New Zealand and the United States run large processing and export sectors. To see opportunities, browse dairy jobs by country, including dairy jobs in India and dairy jobs in New Zealand, read about dairy careers and dairy job descriptions, or see the live dairy jobs currently advertised.
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Frequently asked questions
The world produced about 985 million tonnes of milk in 2024, according to FAOSTAT. FAO estimates that output passed 1 billion tonnes for the first time in 2025, at about 1,004 million tonnes.
India, with about 248 million tonnes in 2024, or roughly a quarter of world output (FAOSTAT). The United States is second with about 102 million tonnes and Pakistan third with about 67 million tonnes.
About 81% in 2024. Buffaloes supplied about 15.5%, and goats, sheep and camels together about 3.5% (FAOSTAT).
Less than 7% according to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook, or about 9% on FAO's milk-equivalent measure for 2025. The EU, New Zealand and the United States are the leading exporters, and China is the largest importer.
By about 2.1% a year on average between 2014 and 2024 (FAOSTAT). The OECD-FAO Outlook projects growth of about 2.0% a year to around 1,223 million tonnes in 2035, with India providing more than half of the increase.
Sources
- FAO, FAOSTAT – Crops and livestock products (QCL): milk production by species and country (2014–2024 data (accessed November 2026))
- FAO, FAOSTAT – Food Balances (2010–): food supply of milk excluding butter, kg per person (2023 data (accessed November 2026))
- FAO, Agricultural production statistics 2010–2024, FAOSTAT Analytical Brief 121 (2025 (2024 data))
- FAO, Food Outlook – Biannual report on global food markets, June 2026 (milk and milk products chapter, world dairy market table) (2026 (2024 data, 2025 estimates, 2026 forecasts))
- OECD/FAO, OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035, Chapter 6: Dairy and dairy products (2026 (2025 base data, projections to 2035))
- USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Dairy: World Markets and Trade, July 2026 (2026 (2025 data))
- Eurostat, Milk production reached 161.8 million tonnes in 2024 (news release) (20 November 2025 (2024 data))
- Eurostat, Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act), C10.5 Manufacture of dairy products (2024 data (updated 30 September 2026))
- USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Dairy Products 2025 Summary (April 2026 (2025 data))
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, all employees in dairy product manufacturing (NAICS 3115), series CEU3231150001 (2025 annual average)
This page is reviewed and updated once a year when new official data are published.
Last reviewed: November 2026. © 2026 Dairy Jobs (Specialist Recruiters Ltd).