Grain Harvest in Russia by Year: Complete Statistics and Charts
In 2023, Russia harvested 145.0 million tons of grain and leguminous crops in weight after processing. The record was set a year earlier: 157.6 million tons in 2022. For comparison, in 2010 the harvest amounted to only 61.0 million tons. Over thirteen years, the harvest grew 2.4 times. Rosstat data.
Below is the complete series by year, yields by region, comparison with the world's largest producers, and interactive charts.
Grain Harvest in Russia by Year
Millions of tons, in weight after processing.
| Year | Grain Harvest | Yield, centners/ha |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 61.0 | 18.3 |
| 2015 | 104.7 | 23.7 |
| 2019 | 121.2 | 26.7 |
| 2020 | 133.5 | 28.6 |
| 2021 | 121.4 | 26.7 |
| 2022 | 157.6 | 33.6 |
| 2023 | 145.0 | 31.0 |
The year 2010 was dry and disastrous, so the baseline for comparison is understated. A fairer starting point is 2015: since then, the harvest has grown by 38 percent, and the yield by 31 percent.
Russia's grain harvest remains highly weather-dependent. The spread between adjacent years reaches up to 36 million tons: 121.4 in 2021 and 157.6 in 2022. No machinery eliminates this spread, because it is a matter of precipitation.
Interactive version: production of grain and leguminous crops by country, 2010–2023.
Yield by Region
Centners per hectare of harvested area, farms of all categories.
| Region | 2015 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 23.7 | 27.9 |
| Bryansk Oblast | 29.7 | 59.0 |
| Jewish Autonomous Oblast | 15.9 | 57.1 |
| Kaliningrad Oblast | 42.5 | 56.7 |
| Krasnodar Krai | 56.1 | 55.9 |
| Kabardino-Balkaria | 45.8 | 55.6 |
| Primorsky Krai | 30.9 | 54.6 |
First place in terms of yield is occupied not by the Kuban, but by Bryansk Oblast: 59.0 centners per hectare against 55.9 for Krasnodar Krai. Bryansk Oblast doubled its figure over nine years, from 29.7 to 59.0 centners. The Kuban did not budge over the same period: 56.1 in 2015 and 55.9 in 2024, meaning the region has hit its agro-climatic ceiling. The Jewish Autonomous Oblast looks even more dramatic: 15.9 centners in 2015, 21.1 in 2023, and a sudden 57.1 in 2024. Such a leap in a single year usually indicates a change in the composition of harvested areas rather than the crop itself, and should be treated with caution.
At the bottom of the list are regions where grain is grown in unsuitable conditions:
- Republic of Khakassia: 14.4 dt/ha
- Zabaykalsky Krai: 13.4
- Republic of Tuva: 10.1
- Komi Republic: 9.7
- Moscow: 9.5
- Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): 9.1
The gap between Bryansk Oblast and Yakutia is sixfold.
Russia in the Global Standing
Production of cereals and pulses for 2023, million tons:
| Country | Harvest | Yield, dt/ha |
|---|---|---|
| China | 648.3 | 63.0 |
| USA | 465.0 | 81.9 |
| India | 400.3 | 29.0 |
| Brazil | 158.8 | no data |
| Russia | 145.0 | 31.0 |
| France | 65.2 | 71.0 |
| Canada | 64.0 | 33.8 |
| Argentina | 63.0 | no data |
| Ukraine | 59.7 | 55.2 |
In terms of gross harvest, Russia ranks fifth in the world. In terms of yield, the picture is completely different: 31.0 decitonnes per hectare compared to 81.9 in the USA, 71.0 in France, and 68.5 in Germany. Russia harvests a lot due to land area, not due to the productivity of a hectare.
The reason is mainly climatic. Russian arable land is located further north and is drier than European land, and the zone of risky farming occupies most of it. Kazakhstan, with similar conditions, yields 10.3 dt/ha, which is three times less than Russia.
Interactive version: cereal yields by countries of the world.
Questions and Answers
How much grain does Russia harvest per year?
145.0 million tons in 2023, 157.6 million tons in the record-breaking 2022. The average level of the last five years is about 135 million tons.
What was the record grain harvest in Russia?
157.6 million tons in 2022. This is the best result for the entire period covered by Rosstat statistics in comparison with the countries of the world.
What is the grain yield in Russia?
31.0 centners per hectare in 2023, 27.9 in 2024. In 2010, it was 18.3 centners/ha, meaning that over thirteen years, productivity grew 1.7 times.
Which region harvests the most per hectare?
Bryansk Oblast, 59.0 centners per hectare in 2024. Krasnodar Krai is in fourth place with 55.9 centners/ha.
Why does Russia have a low yield compared to Europe?
The main reason is climatic: a short summer, lack of precipitation in the main grain-producing regions, and a large share of risky farming zones. The gap with France and Germany has remained approximately twofold throughout all recent years.
Does Russia have enough of its own grain?
Yes, the country exports a significant part of the harvest. Rosstat calculates the level of grain self-sufficiency separately for each region.
In Brief
Russia harvests about 145 million tons of grain per year compared to 61 million tons in 2010. The growth was mainly due to yield: 18.3 centners per hectare back then and 31.0 now. In terms of gross harvest, the country is fifth in the world, but in terms of hectare productivity, it lags behind the US and France by more than twice. Within the country, the first place in yield is unexpectedly occupied by Bryansk Oblast, which surpassed the Kuban.