Pomegranate is cultivated in 36 countries of the world: United States of America, Australia, Russia, Japan, Germany, China, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Morocco, Mauritania, Bangladesh, Burma, Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Yugoslavia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Samarkand, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, India and Iran.
Iran ecological conditions is completely suitable for pomegranate production. It is located in the temperate region of the northern hemisphere. Away from oceans but relatively close to equator, Iran is categorized as an arid and semi arid country. High mountain ranges, low downfall and central deserts are other important parameters that make the land proper for pomegranate and pistachio cultivation.
That is why pomegranate is an endemic tree of Iran and is tilled in all states except Hamedan. Cities adjacent to deserts have been appropriate for Pomegranate cultivation since many years ago. Fars, Markazi, Isfahan, Khorasan-e-Razavi and Yazd are good examples of these states and are the most productive states of Iran respectively.
Pomegranate consumption in Iran about 7-8 kg per person per year.
In a period between 21March 2005 and 21March 2006 in Iran, 7,404 hectares were used for seedling and 56,329 hectares for fruit bearing trees. Yield per hectare was 12,519 kg and the total production of the period was 705,166 Metric tons which is about 47% of world pomegranate production.
A comparison between different countries based on their area under pomegranate cultivation in 2005 is given in the following table (The information is originated from Jihad-e Agriculture Ministry, Plant production department) :
Country Area under cultivation (Ha)
Iran 63,733
India 54,755
USA 14,000
Turkey 8,500
Spain 3,000