A Global Phenomenon

Chili peppers, with their vibrant colors and varied heat, have inflamed taste buds around the world for thousands of years. These versatile fruits offer more than just heat, they provide complex flavors, nutritional benefits, and cultural significance that transcends borders. Although the chili pepper is native to South America, it is now enthusiastically grown in many parts of the world, where production and yield outpace the countries of their origin. This site is a visual exploration of the global chili pepper trade and production.

The data presented on this site is largely sourced from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAOSTAT) database, which is a comprehensive collection of agricultural data from around the world.

Fresh and Dry Chili Production

Global production shows remarkable growth over the past three decades. Capsicum based fresh pepper production (classified as "Green" from FAOSTAT) has steadily increased from approximately 15 million tonnes in 1994 to nearly 40 million tonnes by 2023, reflecting consistent demand growth. Meanwhile, dry chili production shows more volatility but has also trended upward, rising from around 1.8 million tonnes to approximately 5.8 million tonnes. The harvested area for green chilies shows steady expansion, while dry chili cultivation demonstrates significant fluctuations, particularly notable drops around 2006, 2018, and rapid recovery by 2022. These trends highlight both the growing global appetite for chili peppers and the challenges of dry chili production, which appears more susceptible to climate and market variations.