China – China is the world's leading producer of tobacco. The tobacco industry in China pays an equivalent of about $141.9 billion in taxes a year. Many provincial governments in China are dependent on the tobacco industry, which provides a major boost to local economies.

When it comes to tobacco, the answer depends on whether you are looking at production or export. China is the undisputed world leader in tobacco production, growing over 2 million metric tons annually, which accounts for roughly one-third of the global total. However, the vast majority of China's tobacco is consumed domestically by its massive population. If you look at the world's leading exporter of raw tobacco leaf, that title typically belongs to Brazil. Brazil's tobacco industry is highly export-oriented, providing high-quality leaf to manufacturing hubs all over the world. India also ranks highly, usually holding the second spot in terms of total production volume. Other major players include Zimbabwe and the United States, both of which are famous for high-quality "flue-cured" tobacco. Together, these top nations dominate a global industry that produces over 5 million tons of tobacco leaf every year.