The present study investigated the economic performance of olive orchards in Rudbar in the province of Guilan in Iran in 2014 using the results from 305 questionnaires that were randomly distributed to regional olive growers. The orchards were divided into three groups of <1 ha, 1-5 ha, and &gt;5 ha in size as small, medium, and large olive orchards, respectively. The information was analyzed using Excel software and the means of the economic indices of total production value, net benefit, benefit-to-cost ratio and economic productivity were calculated. The total production value was estimated as 3316.44 $ ha-1 and total cost of production was 1806.21 $ ha-1, regardless of size of orchard. Calculation of economic indices indicates that the best total production values were recorded for small- and medium-sized orchards. The economic efficiency was 2.937 kg $-1 and the benefit-to-cost ratio was 1.79 for organic olive production. These values were 3.036 kg $-1 and 1.84, respectively, for non-organic orchards. The figures show that there was no significant difference between organic and non-organic olive production in terms of economic efficiency and benefit to cost ratio in Guilan province, Iran. With the ever-increasing tendency toward organic production of agricultural products, the olive producers and agricultural authorities of Guilan province are recommended to consider seriously non-chemical/ organic methods for olive production as the best economic and environmental alternative.