Interested in knowing which are the 8 countries that produce the most opium in the world? Let’s find out!
Opium is a white, milky substance that, after extracted from the Opium Poppy, can be used to produce morphine, heroin, codeine and many other derivatives called “opiates”.
Native to the Eastern Mediterranean, The Opium Poppy became extensively cultivated throughout Europe and Asia since ancient times, thanks to its capacity as a strong analgesic and painkiller. It’s mentioned in most medicinal corpora of almost every major civilization of antiquity, including the Greek, Persian, Arabic, Indian, and Chinese.
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It was reintroduced in Europe during the 15th century, where it became popular as a recreational drug, thanks to its effectiveness in producing a temporary state of euphoria and an overall sensation of calmness and well being. However, it is considered to have been used for recreational purposes long before that time in China, Turkey, and many other parts of Asia.
Opium as a pure substance became in disuse for medicinal purposes since the discovery of the morphine isolation process in the 19th century. Morphine has been viewed since then, as a much more effective way of treating pain and it’s still used today, as an essential compound in modern medicine. Opium continued to be smoked, or eaten, for recreational purposes in many societies until the 20th century, when the first synthesis of heroin for commercial use took place.
Heroin has been described as the most addictive substance within all recreational drugs, thus explaining its wide success, in spite of its proscription. Its reduced size, and increased potency also benefit drug smugglers, who can make a much larger profit with the same amount of product. However, other illegal drugs still continue to gain popularity among drug users, as you can see in our previous article on countries that produce the most illegal drugs in the world.
In spite of opium’s extensive use in modern medicine, illegal production still manages to surpass supervised cultivation, regardless of the many efforts by countries to have it completely eradicated. According to The Australian, Hurriyet Daily News, and Geopium, Turkey is the country with the largest cultivation of legal opium, which is produced under state supervision. Australia and India come in second and third place as legal producers, but this list will be focused on illegal opium producers, since they account for most of the world’s opium production. As it’s the case with any illegal drug, actual figures on production and export are never truly available beyond estimation, but conclusive reports have been made on the subject of illegal opium production by the UN’s Undoc, on their 2015 World Drug Report and the CIA, on its World Fact Book. These were our main sources when putting together this list of the 8 countries that produce the most opium in the world.
8. Iran
Estimated at least 100 illegal hectares cultivated
Though mass production of illegal opium is believed to have been eradicated from Iran, the Islamic Republic continues to be the country with the largest amount of opium seized, reaching a total 436 tons in 2013, and over 15 tons in that year alone.
7. Colombia
Estimated 298 illegal hectares cultivated
Colombia is largely known as one of the world’s leaders in cocaine smuggling, but Colombian drug lords’ ambitions don’t end in coca leaves. The South American country is said to be one of the US’s largest suppliers of opium and illegal opium derivatives. However, the Colombian government is committed to eradicating illegal opium poppy cultivation and has reported the destruction of 514 ha during 2013.
6. Pakistan
Estimated 2,300 illegal hectares cultivated
Pakistan ranks as the country with the largest amount of illegal morphine seizures per year, with over 5 tons seized in 2013. It is theorized that strengthen controls in borders between neighboring countries, have influenced Pakistan’s recent increase in illicit opium production.
5. Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Estimated 6,200 illegal hectares cultivated
Laos is considered to be one of the largest suppliers of illegal opium in Southeast Asia and ranks fifth on our list of the 8 countries that produce the most opium in the world.
4. India
Estimated 12,237 illegal hectares cultivated
India is one of the world’s largest producers of legal opium for medicinal purposes. Production is controlled by the government and cultivation requires a special license. It is believed that a large portion of legal production is diverted to the illegal market, and yearly eradication on illegal cultivations varies between 1,250ha and 5,800ha a year.
3. Mexico
Illegal hectares cultivated: Inconclusive.
Though there’s not a specific estimation available on México’s opium production, it’s considered to be one the world’s largest producers, and the largest in the Americas, since at least 14,662 ha of opium poppy were eradicated in 2013 alone.
2. Myanmar
Estimated 57,600 illegal hectares cultivated.
Myanmar is the world’s second largest producer of illegal opium, and Chinese authorities have reported the country as its main heroin supplier.
1. Afghanistan
Estimated 224,000 illegal hectares cultivated.
Although there are plans to license opium cultivation, following Turkey’s example, Afghanistan remains by far, the largest supplier of illegal opium and heroin, accounting for 77% of the world’s total heroin supply, covering most of the European and Western Asian demand, thus making it first of our list of the 8 countries that produce the most opium in the world.
