The Top 7 Countries That Grow the Most Apples in the World

There are over 7,000 types of apples grown around the world. You’ll find these fruits on nearly every continent, from common cultivars like Red Delicious to the extremely rare Black Diamond. Most of the apples you’ll find in supermarkets are grown in just a few countries. These are the seven countries that grow the most apples in the world!

1. China 

China is the largest apple-producing country in the world by far. In 2022, it produced an estimated amount of 47,573,200 apples, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. That’s about 10 times as many apples as any other country! 

Why does China produce so much of the planet’s apples? It all started in 2004 when China became the number one apple exporter in the world. With farmers looking to hold that title, the country’s apple acreage expanded from the 1990s into the 2000s and 2010s, growing by the hundreds. As more land was dedicated to apple orchards, the production of apples drastically increased. 

Apples are worth more than a lot of other crops, which enticed farmers into growing them. The Chinese government also offered small monetary incentives in the early 90s and 2000s that got a lot of growers started.

2. Turkey

With a production value of 4,817,500 in 2022, Turkey is the second-largest apple-growing country in the world. The reason why Turkey can produce so many apples is because the country is basically made for the crop. Apples can grow in nearly every region in Turkey as opposed to just a few places in China and the U.S. 

Some of the main regions in Turkey that produce the most apples include Antalya, Karaman, and Isparta. Along with the fact that growing apples in Turkey is fairly easy, the country’s close location to major markets also helps its apple production. 

3. United States 

In a tight race between second, third, and fourth, the United States ranked third in terms of growing apples. It produced 4,429,330 apples in 2022, which was around 400,000 less than Turkey. 

Unlike Turkey, apples only grow in a few parts of the United States — mainly the Pacific Northwest. The top-growing state in America is Washington State, followed by New York, California, and Michigan. The U.S. exports some of the apple crop to nearby countries like Mexico and Canada, but most are sold in the country. 

4. Poland 

Poland is the fourth-largest producer of apples in the world at a total of 4,264,700 in 2022. The country saw a significant increase in production from 2020 to 2021, with an increase of almost 22%. 

Interestingly, Poland has one of the highest apple production rates per capita, three times as high as in China, and six times as high as in the U.S. A large majority of the apples grown in Poland are exported to Mongolia, Egypt, and India. 

In Poland, apples grow in nearly every part of the country, but they thrive in central, southeastern, and southwestern parts of the country. Sandomierszczyzna is the oldest orchard region in Poland, with the first apple in the country grown in the 12th century. 

5. India 

India is the fifth-largest apple-producing country in the world, but it produces much less than Turkey, Poland, and the U.S. In 2022, India produced just 2,589,000 apples. One reason that India isn’t able to keep up with the competition quite as much is that there are only a few places where apples can grow. They mainly grow in the higher elevation areas of Kashmir and Jammu, as well as Himachal Pradesh. 

6. Russia 

In 2022, Russia produced 2,379,000 apples, earning it sixth place on our list. Russia has produced apples for many years. A few varieties exclusively grow there, and most of its production is sold within the country. 

However, Russia’s apple production is beginning to decline, so they are importing more apples. The main reason that apple production is declining is due to frost and freezing during the flowering season. 

7. Italy 

Not far behind Russia, Italy earned seventh in apple production at 2,256,240 in 2022. Most of the apples are grown in Trentino-Alto Adige, followed by the Friuli and Veneto regions. One reason that apple production in Italy has increased over the years is because the size of land used for growing apples has increased. From 2014 to 2019, the country’s apple-producing land grew from 54,743 to 57,674 hectares. However, it dropped slightly to 56,036 in 2023.

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