Total rice consumption in China MY 2014/15-2024/25

China had the highest rice consumption in the world, consuming around 145 million metric tons in the marketing year 2023/2024, and this figure was forecasted to decrease slightly to 140 million metric tons in the following year. 

Rice as a staple food

In China, both rice and noodles are staple foods, but the consumption patterns depend on the region. Generally, rice is consumed more in the south, while noodles are more popular in the north. Typically, rice is served plain to be eaten with other dishes, but there are other variations of rice such as congees and fried rice, which can also be consumed on its own.

Regional importance of rice

Rice is a popular food throughout Asia, and many Asian countries are leading production as well as consumption levels worldwide. These include India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Despite the consistently high domestic production of rice in China, the country was one of the biggest rice importers in the whole world, mainly from other Asian countries.