Top 10 Rice Consuming Countries in 2025
Rice has for centuries been associated with numerous South East Asian and African countries as the prominent grain on which generations have relied for nutrition. While production is in full swing and has seen a steady rise throughout the years, consumption has been slightly changing from region to region.
Rice varieties relished by global consumers
While there are predominantly 3 types of rice varieties, namely short grain, medium grain, and long grain, the long grain variety leads in global consumption. Oryza sativa subsp. Indica accounts for 70% of the total rice consumed. Basmati and Japonica rice come under this subspecies of rice. Out of the two, Basmati is the most widely consumed rice due to the unique aroma it imparts to delicacies after cooking.
India is the leading producer of basmati rice, with 6 million tonnes of the grain being exported worldwide. Japonica rice, which is another variant of Oryza sativa, is popular in Asian countries due to its binding ability and is used for making sushi in Japan. Lastly, Oryza sativa glutinosa, or more commonly known as glutinous rice, has a global share of only 5%.
However, in countries like Laos and Cambodia, where per capita consumption of rice is the highest in the world, specifically 279 kg and 249 kg of rice respectively, 85% of the population favours glutinous rice, which is evident from famous dishes such as Mango sticky rice.
Varying Consumption patterns across the globe
Rice is a staple diet for people globally, as is evident from 3.5 billion people consuming milled rice on a daily basis as of 2025. This accounts for more than 60% of the global population, which is directly reliant on the crop for nutritional requirements. Calorie intake through rice consumption accounts for 50% of an individual’s calorie intake.
Countries such as Myanmar have the highest per capita consumption of rice, amounting to 278.97 kg per person. This is in stark contrast to China, which, although being the largest producer of rice, has a per capita consumption of 98.98 kg per person. This reduction by almost 65% can be attributed to increased urbanisation as well as diversification of food choices. 70% of China’s population is urbanised, resulting in gaining access to food items that satisfy the calorie requirements of a healthy individual.
Japan, once an epitome for rice production and consumption, has now been driven to a state of panic, which has resulted in excessive buying of the grain. As of 2025, a 5 kg bag of rice alone costs $35, which was purchased for half the price earlier. The government, for years, had made sure to instill in its citizens the value of purchasing less rice in order to maintain stability in prices.
However, with scares regarding earthquakes and an influx of tourists, Japanese citizens are now hoarding food. The recent $550 billion trade deal between the US Government and Japan further forced the Japanese government to reduce the reciprocal tariffs from the earlier 25% down to 15%.
Leveraging rice for other market opportunities
India, being the second largest producer of rice, doesn’t necessarily consume the grain for food. Most of India’s rice also goes to the production of ethanol. In 2025, the Union Government of India transferred 5.2 million tonnes of rice to ethanol plants under the country’s Ethanol Blended Program (EBP)to act as feedstock for the same due to dwindling sugarcane production.
India, ranking 3rd in the production of petroleum, has leveraged its abundant rice production to maintain blended gasoline manufacturing. The country’s goal of reaching 20% blended gasoline is within reach, with current blended gasoline having an ethanol percentage of 19.8%.
Prominent rice-eating nations in 2025
Regionally, South East Asia leads in Rice consumption. China and India, which both account for 50% of total rice consumption globally, have a consumption volume of 192.8 million tonnes and 140.3 million tonnes, respectively. This was followed by Indonesia, with a rice consumption of 51.8 million tonnes in 2025. Bangladesh too made the list with consumption of rice amounting to 42.2 million tonnes.
The Philippines ranked 5th with total rice consumption volume amounting to 22.5 million tonnes. Vietnam followed with a similar consumption amount of 22.4 million tonnes. Myanmar, a country with the highest per capita consumption of rice, specifically 278.97 kg per person, ranked 7th on the list with a substantial rice consumption amount of 15.1 million tonnes.
Thailand also made it to the list, with rice consumption value being 12.8 million tonnes. Japan ranked 9th on the top 10 list, with the amount consumed being 9.1 million tonnes. Brazil was the only non Asian country that showed significant rice consumption volume, which reached 7.1 million tonnes in 2025.
Conclusion
Rice continues to be integral to the food security of various nations, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa, due to a cultural association with this calorie-dense grain, which is brimming with flavors as well as nutrients. Trade deals, uncontrolled tourism, as well as urbanization, have all contributed to the oscillation of consumption habits of rice.
