GITNUXREPORT 2025

Plant Statistics

Plant diversity supports life, medicine, economy, and climate resilience globally.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Rice supports more than half of the world's population

Statistic 2

Plants are the basis of over 80% of the human diet worldwide

Statistic 3

The world's oldest known cultivated plant is the date palm, which has been cultivated for over 5,000 years

Statistic 4

Tea plants, native to Asia, have been cultivated for over 2,000 years

Statistic 5

The total global area of wheat cultivation exceeds 220 million hectares

Statistic 6

The edible seed of the wheat plant is a staple food for over 35% of the global population

Statistic 7

The world produces over 100 million tons of rice annually, feeding more than half of the human population

Statistic 8

Approximately 390,000 plant species are known to science

Statistic 9

There are more than 390,000 documented flowering plant species

Statistic 10

About 60,000 plant species are used worldwide for medicine

Statistic 11

Around 400,000 plant species produce edible fruits

Statistic 12

Around 10% of the world's plant species are threatened with extinction

Statistic 13

The Amazon rainforest contains about 390 billion individual trees

Statistic 14

The World Health Organization recognizes 17,000 plant species with potential medicinal value

Statistic 15

The medicinal properties of aloe vera have been utilized for thousands of years, with over 160 species used in herbal medicine

Statistic 16

Some cacti, like the Peyote, contain psychoactive compounds used traditionally in spiritual practices

Statistic 17

The African violet is a popular houseplant known for its vibrant purple flowers, originating from Tanzania and Kenya

Statistic 18

The plant family Asteraceae includes over 23,000 species such as daisies, sunflowers, and chrysanthemums

Statistic 19

The world's largest flowering plant by flower size is Rafflesia arnoldii, with a flower diameter of up to 1 meter

Statistic 20

The number of medicinal plants used in traditional Chinese medicine exceeds 6,000 species

Statistic 21

The lily family, Liliaceae, contains around 3,000 species, including popular flowers like tulips and lilies

Statistic 22

Plants cover about 31% of the Earth's surface

Statistic 23

Trees can live for over 5,000 years

Statistic 24

Plants absorb approximately 25% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans annually

Statistic 25

Approximately 75% of the world's crops depend on bees for pollination

Statistic 26

Plants produce about 90% of the oxygen we breathe

Statistic 27

Mangroves protect coastlines from erosion and support a quarter of the world's fish species

Statistic 28

The green algae that contribute to marine plant life provide about 50% of the world's oxygen

Statistic 29

The role of plants in carbon sequestration is essential, with forests acting as major carbon sinks, storing about 80-100 gigatons of carbon annually

Statistic 30

The global plant-based market was valued at over $40 billion in 2022

Statistic 31

The global forestry sector employs over 13 million people

Statistic 32

The annual global production of wood biomass is approximately 2 billion cubic meters

Statistic 33

The economic value of global crop production exceeds $2.7 trillion annually

Statistic 34

The global herbal medicine market is expected to reach over $5 billion by 2025

Statistic 35

About 95% of the caffeine consumed worldwide is derived from coffee plants

Statistic 36

The world's largest producer of soybeans is the United States, followed by Brazil and Argentina

Statistic 37

The world's most expensive spice, saffron, is derived from the stigma of Crocus sativus flowers

Statistic 38

The global demand for ornamental plants is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% through 2030

Statistic 39

The global market for plant-based proteins is expected to reach USD 20 billion by 2027

Statistic 40

The world's most expensive coffee, Kopi Luwak, is made using beans eaten and excreted by civet cats that consume coffee cherries

Statistic 41

Plant-based meat alternatives are projected to constitute over 10% of global meat consumption by 2030

Statistic 42

Cannabis plants produce over 114 phytocannabinoids, including THC and CBD

Statistic 43

Bamboo can grow up to 91 cm (35 inches) in a single day

Statistic 44

The tallest recorded tree, a coast redwood, is 115.7 meters (379.7 feet) tall

Statistic 45

The average plant cell extends about 1-10 micrometers, but some plant cells can be over 10 meters long

Statistic 46

Bright red berries, such as those of the holly plant, are a rich source of vitamin C

Statistic 47

Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, was first extracted in 1817

Statistic 48

The world's largest flower, the Rafflesia, can be over 1 meter (3.3 feet) in diameter

Statistic 49

The desert plant Welwitschia can live over 2,000 years

Statistic 50

The sunflower plant can reach heights of up to 3.4 meters (11 feet)

Statistic 51

Certain orchids can live over 100 years

Statistic 52

The seed of the jojoba plant produces liquid wax used in cosmetics

Statistic 53

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that can close its trap in less than a second

Statistic 54

Cacti can store up to 200 liters of water in their tissues

Statistic 55

The main photosynthetic pigment in plants, chlorophyll, was discovered in 1817

Statistic 56

Certain species of aquatic plants like duckweed can double their biomass in as little as 16 hours

Statistic 57

The Ribbon cactus produces vibrant red flowers typically once a year

Statistic 58

The giant Amazonian water lily, Victoria amazonica, has leaves that can grow up to 3 meters in diameter

Statistic 59

Banana plants can produce a bunch of fruit weighing up to 50 kg (110 pounds)

Statistic 60

The world's fastest-growing plant, bamboo, can grow up to 91 cm (35 inches) in a single day

Statistic 61

The cacao tree, used for chocolate, takes about 5 years to start producing fruit

Statistic 62

The tallest sunflower recorded reached 9.17 meters (30 feet 1 inch)

Statistic 63

Certain carnivorous plants, like pitcher plants, can trap and digest insects to supplement their nutrition

Statistic 64

The tallest recorded date palm was over 20 meters (66 feet) tall

Statistic 65

The primary photosynthetic pathway in most plants is C3, but some plants like corn use C4 photosynthesis to conserve water

Statistic 66

The length of the root system of a mature carrot can extend up to 1.5 meters underground

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Key Highlights

  • Approximately 390,000 plant species are known to science
  • Plants cover about 31% of the Earth's surface
  • Trees can live for over 5,000 years
  • The global plant-based market was valued at over $40 billion in 2022
  • Plants absorb approximately 25% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans annually
  • There are more than 390,000 documented flowering plant species
  • Cannabis plants produce over 114 phytocannabinoids, including THC and CBD
  • Rice supports more than half of the world's population
  • Bamboo can grow up to 91 cm (35 inches) in a single day
  • The tallest recorded tree, a coast redwood, is 115.7 meters (379.7 feet) tall
  • About 60,000 plant species are used worldwide for medicine
  • The global forestry sector employs over 13 million people
  • Plants are the basis of over 80% of the human diet worldwide

Did you know that over 390,000 plant species grace our planet—covering 31% of Earth’s surface—and that they produce 90% of the oxygen we breathe, making plants not only vital for life but also a booming industry worth over $40 billion globally?

Agricultural and Food Industry Trends

  • Rice supports more than half of the world's population
  • Plants are the basis of over 80% of the human diet worldwide
  • The world's oldest known cultivated plant is the date palm, which has been cultivated for over 5,000 years
  • Tea plants, native to Asia, have been cultivated for over 2,000 years
  • The total global area of wheat cultivation exceeds 220 million hectares
  • The edible seed of the wheat plant is a staple food for over 35% of the global population
  • The world produces over 100 million tons of rice annually, feeding more than half of the human population

Agricultural and Food Industry Trends Interpretation

These plant statistics reveal that while rice feeds over half the world and wheat provides a staple for a third, humanity’s reliance on a relatively few resilient crops underscores both the incredible importance and vulnerability of our agricultural foundation.

Biodiversity and Plant Species

  • Approximately 390,000 plant species are known to science
  • There are more than 390,000 documented flowering plant species
  • About 60,000 plant species are used worldwide for medicine
  • Around 400,000 plant species produce edible fruits
  • Around 10% of the world's plant species are threatened with extinction
  • The Amazon rainforest contains about 390 billion individual trees
  • The World Health Organization recognizes 17,000 plant species with potential medicinal value
  • The medicinal properties of aloe vera have been utilized for thousands of years, with over 160 species used in herbal medicine
  • Some cacti, like the Peyote, contain psychoactive compounds used traditionally in spiritual practices
  • The African violet is a popular houseplant known for its vibrant purple flowers, originating from Tanzania and Kenya
  • The plant family Asteraceae includes over 23,000 species such as daisies, sunflowers, and chrysanthemums
  • The world's largest flowering plant by flower size is Rafflesia arnoldii, with a flower diameter of up to 1 meter
  • The number of medicinal plants used in traditional Chinese medicine exceeds 6,000 species
  • The lily family, Liliaceae, contains around 3,000 species, including popular flowers like tulips and lilies

Biodiversity and Plant Species Interpretation

With over 390,000 known plant species—ranging from life-sustaining fruits and medicines to endangered blooms—plants are both nature’s silent pharmacy and its fragile masterpiece, reminding us that while we’ve cataloged much, we must also protect the botanical champions of our planet.

Ecological and Environmental Impact

  • Plants cover about 31% of the Earth's surface
  • Trees can live for over 5,000 years
  • Plants absorb approximately 25% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans annually
  • Approximately 75% of the world's crops depend on bees for pollination
  • Plants produce about 90% of the oxygen we breathe
  • Mangroves protect coastlines from erosion and support a quarter of the world's fish species
  • The green algae that contribute to marine plant life provide about 50% of the world's oxygen
  • The role of plants in carbon sequestration is essential, with forests acting as major carbon sinks, storing about 80-100 gigatons of carbon annually

Ecological and Environmental Impact Interpretation

While covering just a third of the Earth's surface, plants wield unparalleled influence—living for millennia, powering nearly all our oxygen, and quietly sequestering vast amounts of carbon—reminding us that their silent stewardship is vital to our survival amid human-driven change.

Economic and Market Data

  • The global plant-based market was valued at over $40 billion in 2022
  • The global forestry sector employs over 13 million people
  • The annual global production of wood biomass is approximately 2 billion cubic meters
  • The economic value of global crop production exceeds $2.7 trillion annually
  • The global herbal medicine market is expected to reach over $5 billion by 2025
  • About 95% of the caffeine consumed worldwide is derived from coffee plants
  • The world's largest producer of soybeans is the United States, followed by Brazil and Argentina
  • The world's most expensive spice, saffron, is derived from the stigma of Crocus sativus flowers
  • The global demand for ornamental plants is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% through 2030
  • The global market for plant-based proteins is expected to reach USD 20 billion by 2027
  • The world's most expensive coffee, Kopi Luwak, is made using beans eaten and excreted by civet cats that consume coffee cherries
  • Plant-based meat alternatives are projected to constitute over 10% of global meat consumption by 2030

Economic and Market Data Interpretation

With a $40 billion market, 13 million workers in forestry, and plant-based proteins set to command $20 billion by 2027, it’s clear that plants are not only rooted in history but are firmly planting their claim on the future economy—though perhaps the most expensive coffee pousse ahead on the aroma alone.

Plant Physiology and Characteristics

  • Cannabis plants produce over 114 phytocannabinoids, including THC and CBD
  • Bamboo can grow up to 91 cm (35 inches) in a single day
  • The tallest recorded tree, a coast redwood, is 115.7 meters (379.7 feet) tall
  • The average plant cell extends about 1-10 micrometers, but some plant cells can be over 10 meters long
  • Bright red berries, such as those of the holly plant, are a rich source of vitamin C
  • Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, was first extracted in 1817
  • The world's largest flower, the Rafflesia, can be over 1 meter (3.3 feet) in diameter
  • The desert plant Welwitschia can live over 2,000 years
  • The sunflower plant can reach heights of up to 3.4 meters (11 feet)
  • Certain orchids can live over 100 years
  • The seed of the jojoba plant produces liquid wax used in cosmetics
  • The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that can close its trap in less than a second
  • Cacti can store up to 200 liters of water in their tissues
  • The main photosynthetic pigment in plants, chlorophyll, was discovered in 1817
  • Certain species of aquatic plants like duckweed can double their biomass in as little as 16 hours
  • The Ribbon cactus produces vibrant red flowers typically once a year
  • The giant Amazonian water lily, Victoria amazonica, has leaves that can grow up to 3 meters in diameter
  • Banana plants can produce a bunch of fruit weighing up to 50 kg (110 pounds)
  • The world's fastest-growing plant, bamboo, can grow up to 91 cm (35 inches) in a single day
  • The cacao tree, used for chocolate, takes about 5 years to start producing fruit
  • The tallest sunflower recorded reached 9.17 meters (30 feet 1 inch)
  • Certain carnivorous plants, like pitcher plants, can trap and digest insects to supplement their nutrition
  • The tallest recorded date palm was over 20 meters (66 feet) tall
  • The primary photosynthetic pathway in most plants is C3, but some plants like corn use C4 photosynthesis to conserve water
  • The length of the root system of a mature carrot can extend up to 1.5 meters underground

Plant Physiology and Characteristics Interpretation

Plant prowess ranges from bamboo's lightning-fast daily 35-inch growth to the Venus flytrap's rapid insect snatch, illustrating that nature's botanical giants and tiny marvels alike produce over 114 phytocannabinoids, tackle environmental extremes, and command remarkable heights and depths, reminding us that plants are both silent giants and lively chemists shaping our world.