Paper and paperboard — Production in India

India: Paper and paperboard — Production was 22.36 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
22.36 million t
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
4th
of 152 countries
All-time high
22.36 million t
in 2024
All-time low
449,500 t
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024

Paper and paperboard — Production in India, 1961–2024

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M196119922024

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.

Analysis

The most recent figure for paper and paperboard — production in India is 22.36 million t, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 54.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, paper and paperboard — production in India peaked at 22.36 million t in 2024 and was at its lowest, 449,500 t, in 1961.

That places India 4th out of 152 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Paper and paperboard — Production in India, year by year

Annual values for Paper and paperboard — Production in India, 1961 to 2024.
Year t Change
1961 449,500 t —
1962 479,000 t +6.6%
1963 558,200 t +16.5%
1964 588,400 t +5.4%
1965 630,000 t +7.1%
1966 669,900 t +6.3%
1967 694,400 t +3.7%
1968 732,600 t +5.5%
1969 801,800 t +9.4%
1970 860,600 t +7.3%
1971 820,000 t -4.7%
1972 845,000 t +3.0%
1973 840,000 t -0.6%
1974 893,000 t +6.3%
1975 911,000 t +2.0%
1976 934,000 t +2.5%
1977 990,000 t +6.0%
1978 998,000 t +0.8%
1979 1.04 million t +4.6%
1980 962,000 t -7.9%
1981 1.27 million t +31.6%
1982 1.29 million t +1.7%
1983 1.48 million t +15.0%
1984 1.56 million t +5.1%
1985 1.56 million t +0.1%
1986 1.81 million t +15.8%
1987 1.87 million t +3.6%
1988 1.98 million t +5.7%
1989 2.05 million t +3.7%
1990 2.19 million t +6.6%
1991 2.36 million t +8.1%
1992 2.53 million t +7.0%
1993 2.63 million t +3.9%
1994 2.86 million t +8.9%
1995 3.02 million t +5.8%
1996 3.02 million t +0.0%
1997 2.92 million t -3.4%
1998 3.32 million t +13.6%
1999 3.85 million t +15.8%
2000 3.79 million t -1.3%
2001 4.28 million t +12.9%
2002 4.29 million t +0.0%
2003 4.26 million t -0.7%
2004 4.61 million t +8.4%
2005 4.66 million t +0.9%
2006 6.80 million t +46.1%
2007 8.30 million t +22.1%
2008 7.94 million t -4.3%
2009 7.79 million t -1.9%
2010 10.11 million t +29.8%
2011 10.17 million t +0.6%
2012 10.25 million t +0.7%
2013 11.80 million t +15.2%
2014 14.49 million t +22.8%
2015 15.44 million t +6.5%
2016 15.54 million t +0.7%
2017 16.23 million t +4.4%
2018 17.23 million t +6.2%
2019 17.57 million t +2.0%
2020 17.98 million t +2.3%
2021 19.19 million t +6.8%
2022 20.11 million t +4.8%
2023 21.11 million t +5.0%
2024 22.36 million t +5.9%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 22.36 million t is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10,000 t, 2235.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • India's 22.36 million t is above the median for South Asia, which is 24,500 t, 912.6× the median. (5 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Paper and paperboard — Production in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2006 +46.1% 4.66 million t 6.80 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 622,644 t 449,500 t 801,800 t 9
1970s 913,560 t 820,000 t 1.04 million t 10
1980s 1.58 million t 962,000 t 2.05 million t 10
1990s 2.87 million t 2.19 million t 3.85 million t 10
2000s 5.67 million t 3.79 million t 8.30 million t 10
2010s 13.88 million t 10.11 million t 17.57 million t 10
2020s 20.15 million t 17.98 million t 22.36 million t 5

Countries ranked near India

  1. 1 China 140.30 million t compare
  2. 2 China, mainland 136.25 million t compare
  3. 3 United States 62.46 million t compare
  4. 5 Japan 21.89 million t compare
  5. 6 Germany 19.19 million t compare
  6. 7 Indonesia 11.95 million t compare

See the full ranking of 182 places →

More environment data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is paper and paperboard — production in India?
Paper and paperboard — production in India was 22.36 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest paper and paperboard — production recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 22.36 million t in 2024.
What is the lowest paper and paperboard — production recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 449,500 t in 1961.
How does India rank for paper and paperboard — production?
India ranks 4th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
Is paper and paperboard — production rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 54.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Paper and paperboard — Production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Paper and paperboard — Production in India. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 28 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/paper-and-paperboard-production-2/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Paper and paperboard — Production
Unit
t
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
182 places, 9,002 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

The database contains data on the production and trade in roundwood and in primary wood and paper products for all countries and territories in the world.The main types of primary forest products included in this database are roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, pulp, and paper and paperboard. These products are detailed further and defined in the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JFSQ) (https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en). The database contains details of the following topics: - roundwood removals (production) by coniferous and non-coniferous wood and assortments, - production and trade in industrial roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood charcoal, pulp, paper and paperboard, and other products. More detailed information on wood products, including definitions, can be found at: https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en