Oat Cultivation: Russia’s Leading Role and Global Trends

Table of contents

Abstract
Land use for oats (Worldwide)
Land use for oats (latest year, world)
Oat Land Use (Continent)
Land use for oats (latest year, continental)
Main data
Reference

Abstract

Oat cultivation has historically been centered in temperate regions, reflecting its adaptability to cooler climates and lower soil fertility. Over the past decades, the global area for oats has declined as demand for other cereals, like wheat and maize, grew due to their higher yields and versatility. Despite this, oats remain vital in specific markets for animal feed and health-conscious consumer products. Russia, with its vast arable land and suitable climate, has consistently maintained a leading role, holding the largest oat cultivation area at 2.13 million hectares in 2022. This highlights its strategic position in global oat production amidst evolving agricultural priorities.

Land use for oats (Worldwide)

Oat cultivation has undergone significant shifts from 1961 to 2022, reflecting changing agricultural priorities. The peak in global oat area was recorded in 1961 in the United States at 9.67 million hectares, driven by its use in both human consumption and animal feed. Since then, a steady decline in oat land use has occurred, as higher-yielding and more profitable crops like maize and soybeans gained prominence. Despite this, the U.S. remains a significant producer, with its current area only 3.73% below the 1961 peak. This trend illustrates oats’ reduced, yet stable, role in modern agricultural systems.

The maximum is 1.46G[2021] of China, and the current value is about 97.8%

Land use for oats (latest year, world)

Oat cultivation in global agriculture showcases a mix of concentrated and dispersed patterns. In 2022, Russia led with the largest oat area at 2.13 million hectares, underscoring its suitability for oats due to vast arable land and favorable climates. This contrasts sharply with the global average of just 117,000 hectares, reflecting significant regional disparities. The total area under oats, 9.51 million hectares, illustrates a decline from historical highs as oats face competition from higher-yield crops. Despite this, oats remain essential in niche markets for animal feed and health-conscious products, maintaining their relevance in diverse agricultural systems.

The maximum is 1.43G of China, the average is 49.5M, and the total is 4.01G

Oat Land Use (Continent)

Oat cultivation has historically been concentrated in Europe, where favorable climates and traditional farming practices supported extensive production. The region reached a peak of 21 million hectares in 1961, highlighting its role as the dominant producer globally. Over time, the total oat area has declined, reflecting shifting agricultural priorities toward higher-yield crops like wheat and maize, as well as changing dietary and feed preferences. Despite this, Europe remains a key player in oat production, supported by growing demand for health-focused food products and sustainable farming practices, which have renewed interest in this versatile crop.

The maximum is the latest one, 4.72G of Asia

Land use for oats (latest year, continental)

Oat cultivation remains a critical component of European agriculture, which led globally in 2022 with 5.07 million hectares, over three times the global average of 1.58 million hectares. Europe’s prominence reflects its favorable climate and long-standing integration of oats into traditional farming systems. However, the global oat area, totaling 9.46 million hectares, has significantly declined from historical highs due to competition from higher-yield crops like wheat and maize. Despite this, oats have seen renewed interest in health-conscious markets and sustainable agriculture, underscoring their enduring role in diverse agricultural landscapes.

The maximum is 4.72G of Asia, the average is 1.47G, and the total is 7.37G

Main data

Others(Oats, Population) [G]
	World	Asia	Lower-middle-income countries	Upper-middle-income countries	Southern Asia	Net Food Importing Developing Countries	Eastern Asia	China	India	Africa
2022	7.98	4.72	3.45	2.56				1.43		1.43
2021	7.91	4.68	3.41	2.55	1.99	1.7	1.66	1.46	1.41	1.37
2020	7.84	4.65	3.37	2.54	1.97	1.67	1.66	1.46	1.4	1.34
2019	7.76	4.61	3.33	2.53	1.95	1.63	1.66	1.45	1.38	1.3
2018	7.68	4.57	3.28	2.52	1.93	1.59	1.66	1.45	1.37	1.26
2017	7.6	4.53	3.24	2.5	1.9	1.56	1.65	1.44	1.35	1.23
2016	7.51	4.48	3.19	2.48	1.88	1.53	1.64	1.43	1.34	1.2
2015	7.43	4.44	3.14	2.46	1.86	1.5	1.63	1.43	1.32	1.17
2014	7.34	4.39	3.1	2.44	1.83	1.46	1.62	1.42	1.31	1.14
2013	7.25	4.35	3.05	2.42	1.81	1.43	1.61	1.41	1.29	1.11
2012	7.16	4.3	3.01	2.4	1.79	1.4	1.6	1.4	1.27	1.08
2011	7.07	4.25	2.96	2.38	1.76	1.34	1.59	1.39	1.26	1.02
2010	6.99	4.2	2.91	2.36	1.74	1.31	1.58	1.38	1.24	0.99
2009	6.9	4.09	2.87	2.35	1.66	1.21	1.58	1.38	1.22	0.91
2008	6.81	4.04	2.82	2.33	1.64	1.19	1.58	1.37	1.21	0.89
2007	6.73	4	2.78	2.31	1.61	1.17	1.57	1.36	1.19	0.87
2006	6.64	3.96	2.74	2.29	1.59	1.14	1.56	1.36	1.17	0.85
2005	6.56	3.91	2.69	2.28	1.57	1.12	1.55	1.35	1.15	0.83
2004	6.48	3.87	2.65	2.26	1.55	1.1	1.54	1.34	1.14	0.81
2003	6.39	3.83	2.6	2.24	1.52	1.08	1.53	1.33	1.12	0.79
2002	6.31	3.78	2.56	2.23	1.5	1.06	1.52	1.32	1.1	0.77
2001	6.23	3.74	2.51	2.21	1.47	1.03	1.51	1.32	1.08	0.75
2000	6.15	3.69	2.47	2.19	1.45	1.01	1.51	1.31	1.06	0.74
1999	6.07	3.65	2.42	2.17	1.42	0.99	1.5	1.3	1.04	0.72
1998	5.99	3.6	2.38	2.16	1.4	0.97	1.49	1.29	1.02	0.7
1997	5.91	3.56	2.33	2.14	1.37	0.95	1.48	1.29	1	0.68
1996	5.83	3.51	2.29	2.12	1.35	0.93	1.47	1.28	0.98	0.67
1995	5.74	3.46	2.24	2.1	1.32	0.9	1.46	1.27	0.96	0.65
1994	5.66	3.41	2.2	2.08	1.29	0.88	1.45	1.25	0.95	0.64
1993	5.58	3.36	2.15	2.05	1.27	0.86	1.43	1.24	0.93	0.62
1992	5.49	3.31	2.11	2.03	1.24	0.85	1.42	1.23	0.91	0.61
1991	5.41	3.18	2.07	2.01	1.22	0.82	1.4	1.21	0.89	0.6
1990	5.32	3.13	2.02	1.98	1.19	0.8	1.38	1.19	0.87	0.58
1989	5.22	3.07	1.98	1.95	1.17	0.78	1.36	1.17	0.85	0.57
1988	5.13	3.01	1.93	1.92	1.14	0.76	1.34	1.15	0.83	0.55
1987	5.04	2.95	1.89	1.88	1.11	0.74	1.31	1.13	0.82	0.54
1986	4.95	2.89	1.84	1.85	1.09	0.72	1.29	1.11	0.8	0.52
1985	4.86	2.83	1.8	1.82	1.06	0.71	1.27	1.09	0.78	0.51
1984	4.78	2.77	1.76	1.79	1.04	0.69	1.25	1.07	0.76	0.49
1983	4.69	2.72	1.72	1.76	1.01	0.67	1.23	1.05	0.75	0.48
1982	4.61	2.67	1.67	1.73	0.99	0.65	1.21	1.04	0.73	0.47
1981	4.52	2.61	1.63	1.71	0.97	0.63	1.2	1.02	0.71	0.45
1980	4.44	2.56	1.59	1.68	0.94	0.62	1.18	1.01	0.7	0.44
1979	4.37	2.51	1.55	1.65	0.92	0.6	1.16	0.99	0.68	0.43
1978	4.29	2.47	1.51	1.63	0.9	0.59	1.15	0.98	0.67	0.42
1977	4.22	2.42	1.48	1.6	0.88	0.57	1.13	0.97	0.65	0.41
1976	4.14	2.37	1.44	1.58	0.86	0.56	1.12	0.95	0.64	0.4
1975	4.07	2.32	1.41	1.55	0.83	0.55	1.1	0.93	0.62	0.39
1974	4	2.27	1.38	1.52	0.82	0.53	1.08	0.92	0.61	0.38
1973	3.92	2.22	1.35	1.49	0.8	0.52	1.06	0.9	0.6	0.37
1972	3.84	2.17	1.32	1.46	0.78	0.51	1.03	0.88	0.58	0.36
1971	3.77	2.12	1.29	1.43	0.76	0.49	1.01	0.85	0.57	0.35
1970	3.7	2.07	1.26	1.4	0.74	0.48	0.98	0.83	0.56	0.34
1969	3.62	2.02	1.23	1.37	0.73	0.47	0.96	0.81	0.55	0.33
1968	3.55	1.97	1.2	1.34	0.71	0.46	0.93	0.79	0.53	0.32
1967	3.48	1.92	1.17	1.31	0.69	0.45	0.91	0.77	0.52	0.31
1966	3.41	1.88	1.14	1.28	0.68	0.44	0.89	0.75	0.51	0.31
1965	3.34	1.83	1.12	1.25	0.66	0.42	0.87	0.73	0.5	0.3
1964	3.27	1.79	1.09	1.22	0.65	0.41	0.85	0.71	0.49	0.29
1963	3.2	1.75	1.07	1.18	0.63	0.4	0.83	0.7	0.48	0.28
1962	3.13	1.72	1.04	1.15	0.62	0.39	0.82	0.69	0.47	0.28
1961	3.07	1.69	1.02	1.13	0.61	0.38	0.81	0.68	0.46	0.27