China vs United States: Beef production
China
7.79 million tonnes
in 2024
United States
12.29 million tonnes
in 2024
China rank
4th
United States rank
1st
Beef production over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 12.29 million tonnes against 7.79 million tonnes in China, a difference of 4.50 million tonnes.
That makes United States's figure about 1.6 times China's.
Across all 64 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
China ranks 4th and United States ranks 1st of 198 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 123,333 tonnes | 8.79 million tonnes | 8.66 million tonnes | United States |
| 1970s | 218,600 tonnes | 10.77 million tonnes | 10.55 million tonnes | United States |
| 1980s | 555,740 tonnes | 10.71 million tonnes | 10.16 million tonnes | United States |
| 1990s | 2.85 million tonnes | 10.94 million tonnes | 8.09 million tonnes | United States |
| 2000s | 5.68 million tonnes | 11.88 million tonnes | 6.21 million tonnes | United States |
| 2010s | 6.26 million tonnes | 11.81 million tonnes | 5.55 million tonnes | United States |
| 2020s | 7.24 million tonnes | 12.52 million tonnes | 5.28 million tonnes | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher beef production, China or United States?
- United States, at 12.29 million tonnes against 7.79 million tonnes in China as of 2024.
- What is the difference in beef production between China and United States?
- 4.50 million tonnes, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 64 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2024.
- How do China and United States rank globally for beef production?
- China ranks 4th and United States ranks 1st of 198 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Beef production. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.