World olive oil production by country (IOC data)
** Data as of: July 2026 — by campaign, to be verified with the IOC.**
How much olive oil does the world produce, and which countries produce the most? World production sits, depending on the campaign, within a range on the order of 3.0 to 3.4 million tonnes, highly variable depending on the harvest. The Mediterranean basin concentrates the bulk: Spain, Italy, Greece and Tunisia are among the leading producers. This page brings together the volumes by country from the International Olive Council (IOC), the world reference.
Olive oil production is highly volatile: a drought or the natural alternation of olive trees can vary a harvest by tens of percent from one campaign to the next. The figures below are dated orders of magnitude, to be confirmed with the official IOC estimates.
In brief
- World production: order of magnitude ~3.0 to 3.4 million tonnes / campaign.
- 1st producer: Spain, by far, generally around ~40 to 50% of the world total depending on the campaign.
- Followed by Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, Syria.
- Tunisia is the leading producer outside the European Union in many campaigns (to be sourced ).
- Frequency: data by campaign (October → September), revised with each IOC publication.
Production by country (orders of magnitude, thousands of tonnes / campaign)
Indicative volumes per campaign, in thousands of tonnes (kt). The exact values vary strongly from one year to the next and must be confirmed with the IOC. Ranges deliberately kept wide and hedged so as not to overestimate a given campaign.
| Country | Order of magnitude (kt/campaign) | Flagship variety(-ies) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | ~1,000 – 1,400 | Picual, Hojiblanca | to be verified |
| Italy | ~200 – 350 | Coratina, Frantoio | to be verified |
| Greece | ~200 – 350 | Koroneiki | to be verified |
| Tunisia | ~150 – 350 | Chemlali, Chetoui | to be verified |
| Turkey | ~150 – 400 | Ayvalık, Memecik | to be verified |
| Morocco | ~100 – 200 | Moroccan Picholine | to be verified |
| Portugal | ~100 – 200 | Galega, Cobrançosa | to be verified |
| World (total) | ~3,000 – 3,400 | — | to be verified |
Quick read: Spain dominates widely, often as much as all the rest of the world combined. Tunisia stands out as the leading producer outside the EU and plays a key role in exports (see Tunisia's exports). The ranges are deliberately wide: a campaign can be excellent, then mediocre the following year.
Note: a significant share of Tunisian and Spanish production is exported in bulk, then bottled in other countries (notably Italy). A country's production therefore does not always reflect the origin of the oil sold under its brand.
Agricultural campaign: how is production counted?
Olive oil is measured by campaign, not by calendar year:
- A campaign runs from October to September of the following year (e.g. 2025/2026 campaign).
- The harvest takes place mainly from October to February in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Estimates are initially provisional at the start of the campaign, then revised as pressing is completed.
Tracking of the current harvest is detailed on the 2026-2027 campaign page.
Factors that make production vary
- Weather — drought, frost, heatwaves and rain at flowering time are decisive.
- Alternation — the olive tree tends to produce a lot one year, little the next ("alternate bearing").
- Acreage & irrigation — new super-intensive plantings (Spain, Portugal) increase potential.
- Diseases & pests — the olive fruit fly or bacterial diseases can reduce yields.
- Prices & incentives — high rates encourage investment, with a delayed effect (the olive tree takes years to produce).
These factors feed through to prices: see the price observatory.
Methodology & sources
- Reference source — the International Olive Council (IOC) publishes production and consumption estimates by country and by campaign.
- Status — the figures on this page are dated orders of magnitude, in wide ranges, to be confirmed with the IOC; an exceptional campaign can fall outside these bounds.
- Frequency — **annual ** update, aligned with campaign publications.
- No fabricated data — uncertain values are marked "to be verified "; we prefer a wide hedged range to false precision.
Need a guaranteed volume of Tunisian origin, whatever the campaign? Request a dated quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much olive oil does the world produce each year?
On the order of 3.0 to 3.4 million tonnes per campaign, with strong variations depending on the harvest. A poor harvest can markedly drop this total.
Which country produces the most olive oil?
Spain, by far — often around 40 to 50% of world production depending on the campaign. Followed by Italy, Greece and Tunisia.
Where does Tunisia stand?
Tunisia is a major producer and the leading one outside the European Union in many campaigns (to be sourced ). Its production, highly dependent on the weather, regularly places it in the global top tier.
What is an olive "campaign"?
A campaign runs from October to September (e.g. 2025/2026). The harvest takes place mainly from October to February. It is the standard unit of measurement for olive oil production.
Why does production vary so much from one year to the next?
Because of the weather (drought, frost) and the natural alternation of the olive tree, which produces a lot one year and little the next. That is why we give wide ranges.
Where do these figures come from?
From the International Olive Council (IOC), the world reference for production and consumption. The values are dated and to be confirmed with each campaign publication.
Does Italy produce all the oil it sells?
No. Italy imports and bottles a significant share of oil from other origins (Spain, Greece, Tunisia). National production does not reflect the actual origin of all the oil sold under Italian brands.
Is world production increasing?
Over the long term, new plantings (super-intensive in Spain, Portugal) increase potential, but climate volatility can wipe out these gains in a given campaign. Trend to be verified at the source.
Which variety is produced the most?
By world volume, Spanish Picual dominates. Tunisia relies mainly on Chemlali (mild, dominant) and Chetoui (pungent, rich in polyphenols).
Is this data reliable enough to plan a purchase?
These are orders of magnitude useful for understanding the market, but **. To secure a volume of Tunisian origin, request a dated quote.
Where can I track the current harvest?
On the 2026-2027 campaign page, which tracks the weather, expected yield and first estimates of the current campaign.
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Page in English. Data as of July 2026 — by campaign (IOC), to be verified. Orders of magnitude in wide ranges; no value fabricated.
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- Olive Oil Observatory: prices, production, exports
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- Olive oil campaign 2026-2027: harvest & prices
- Tunisia olive oil exports: volumes & destinations
- Olive oil prices by origin (€/kg FOB) monthly update