Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as World's Largest Opium Producer

UN report attributes surge in Myanmar's opium production to economic instability following 2021 military coup

Myanmar has overtaken Afghanistan to become the world's largest producer of opium, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Opium production in Myanmar surged by 36% between 2022 and 2023, following a military coup that caused domestic instability.
In contrast, opium production in Afghanistan dropped by 95% following the Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation in 2022.
The increase in opium production in Myanmar has been attributed to worsening economic conditions and instability following the military coup in 2021.
The total estimated value of Myanmar's 'opiate economy' rose to between $1 billion and $2.4 billion, equivalent to 1.7 to 4.1% of the country's 2022 GDP.