Table 2 – Distribution of global olive oil consumption by the main producing countries World Olive Oil Production Average 2007–2010 Average 2022–2025 Country t % t % Average Annual Rate of Change Per Capita Consumption kg/capita Italy 687 675 23.8% 461 225 15.2% -2.2% 7.76 Spain 543,375 18.8% 442,000 14.6% -1.2% 9.23 USA 258,750 8.9% 407,250 13.5% 3.8 % 1.18 Turkey 108,500 3.8% 182,500 6.0% 4.5% 2.09 Morocco 81,250 2.8% 147,500 4.9% 5.4 % 3.89 France 110,675 3.8% 120,275 4.0% 0.6% 1.81 Greece 237,250 8.2% 88,375 2.9% -4.2% 8.70 Brazil 48,500 1.7% 81,875 2.7% 4.6% 0.39 Algeria 43,125 1.5% 79,500 2.6 % 5.6% 1.71 Germany 51,150 1.8% 71,686 2.4 % 2.7 % 0.85 Other countries 721,933 25.0% 945,406 31.2% 2.1 % – World total 2,892,183 3,027,591 0.3% Source: Own calculations based on data from the IOC and UN population data, DHESA. Per capita consumption shown is the average for 2022–2025. Despite the strong expansion of olive oil consumption into new geographical areas observed in recent decades, it remains heavily concentrated amongst a small fraction of the world’s population. Virtually all other consumer countries recorded more or less significant increases in olive oil consumption, with notable increases in the USA (the third-largest consumer of olive oil, with growth of 3.8% per annum), Morocco (5.4% per annum) and Turkey (4.5% per annum). Despite the strong expansion of olive oil consumption into new geographical areas observed in recent decades, the same it remains highly concentrated amongst a small fraction of the world’s population. Table 3 analyses the distribution of global olive oil consumption across different countries, according to their respective per capita consumption. despite having little or no olive oil production of their own. Analysing the data broken down by country, it can be seen that olive oil consumption has essentially declined mainly in the major producing countries of the European Union (Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal), along with one nonEuropean producer: Syria. During the period under review, Portugal reduced its olive oil consumption by around half (-3.2% per year), although part of this reduction is a consequence of the sharp rise in the price of olive oil observed between 2022 and 2024. Table 3 – Distribution of olive oil consumption and the world’s population by country according to their respective per capita consumption (2022–2025 ) Figure 1 – Distribution of global vegetable oil consumption Sunflower oil Rapeseed oil 14.7% Peanut oil 2.7% Soya oil 33.3% Palm oil / Palm kernel oil 36.1% 8.5% Coconut oil 1.5% Cotton seed oil 2.0% Olive oil 1.2% Source: Own analysis based on data from the IOC and UN population data, DHESA The group of countries with per capita consumption exceeding 2 kg per person per year accounts for 53% of global olive oil consumption, but only around 4% of the world’s population. Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 2026 Per Capita Olive Oil Consumption in Different Countries % of World Consumption % of the World Population Up to 0.4 kg/person/year 9 % 31 % Between 0.4 and 1 kg per person per year 5 % 3 % Between 1 and 2 kg per person per year 27 % 7 % Between 2 and 8 kg per person per year 35 % 3 % More than 8 kg per person per year 18 % 1 % No consumption – 55 % In contrast, 55 per cent of the population does not consume olive oil and 31 per cent consumes very small quantities (up to 0.4 kg per person per year). Thus, around 80% of the world’s population consumes little or no olive oil, a situation which highlights enormous potential for growth in consumption, particularly in non-traditional markets. Olive oil, despite its unique characteristics and health benefits, falls within the category of vegetable oils, where it competes with various substitutes — 58 CULTIVAR ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDIES No. 35 Olive groves and olive oil
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