The Country That Produces The Most Cocoa In The World

Chocolate originates from cocoa beans, the fruit of cacao trees, which require hot temperatures, high humidity, and ample water — conditions found in a narrow equatorial belt.

While the taste of cocoa varies by country, the industry is dominated by West Africa. The world’s leading cocoa-producing country by far is Côte d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast).

According to Statista, Côte d'Ivoire produced 2.2 million tons of cocoa beans in 2022. This is nearly three times as much as the world’s second-largest producer, Ghana.

As per Al Jazeera, the nation produces 45% of the world’s cocoa. Naturally, over a quarter of Côte d'Ivoire’s population relies on cocoa for a living.

Unfortunately, farmers in Côte d'Ivoire reap just a tiny fraction of the chocolate industry’s colossal profits and are largely excluded from the chocolate production process.