Dates production in Saudi Arabia
In 2024 Saudi Arabia produced 1.9 million t of dates, the largest total in the world (19.4% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 193%. This is the highest figure on record. Area harvested: 257,613 ha, yield 7.5 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 1.9 million t
- World rank
- 1 of 36
- 10-year change
- +193%
- Record
- 1.9 million t
- 2024
Dates in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Saudi Arabia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 19.4%
- 8.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 7.5
- world 7.2 (+3.8%)
- kg per person
- 56.8
- world 1.22
- 10-year change
- +193%
- world +34%
Position in the world ranking
Map of world production of dates
Share of the world total; Saudi Arabia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,927,556 | +1.3% | 257,613 | 7.48 |
| 2023 | 1,903,102 | +18% | 234,124 | 8.13 |
| 2022 | 1,610,731 | +2.9% | 156,460 | 10.29 |
| 2021 | 1,565,830 | +1.6% | 152,734 | 10.25 |
| 2020 | 1,541,769 | +0.1% | 152,705 | 10.10 |
| 2019 | 1,539,756 | +18% | 119,718 | 12.86 |
| 2018 | 1,302,859 | +6.4% | 116,125 | 11.22 |
| 2017 | 1,224,192 | +6.2% | 113,848 | 10.75 |
| 2016 | 1,153,009 | +11% | 111,615 | 10.33 |
| 2015 | 1,038,530 | +58% | 109,427 | 9.49 |
| 2014 | 656,807 | −40% | 107,281 | 6.12 |
| 2013 | 1,095,158 | +6.2% | 156,901 | 6.98 |
| 2012 | 1,031,082 | +2.3% | 156,848 | 6.57 |
| 2011 | 1,008,105 | +1.7% | 156,023 | 6.46 |
| 2010 | 991,546 | −0.0% | 155,118 | 6.39 |
| 2009 | 991,660 | +0.5% | 161,975 | 6.12 |
| 2008 | 986,409 | +0.4% | 157,074 | 6.28 |
| 2007 | 982,546 | +0.6% | 155,734 | 6.31 |
| 2006 | 977,036 | +0.7% | 152,402 | 6.41 |
| 2005 | 970,488 | +3.1% | 150,744 | 6.44 |
| 2004 | 941,293 | +6.5% | 148,801 | 6.33 |
| 2003 | 884,088 | +6.6% | 141,421 | 6.25 |
| 2002 | 829,540 | +1.4% | 139,979 | 5.93 |
| 2001 | 817,887 | +11% | 139,099 | 5.88 |
| 2000 | 734,844 | +3.2% | 142,450 | 5.16 |
| 1999 | 712,000 | +9.9% | 141,750 | 5.02 |
| 1998 | 648,000 | −0.2% | 106,460 | 6.09 |
| 1997 | 649,239 | +5.2% | 106,137 | 6.12 |
| 1996 | 616,908 | +4.7% | 100,858 | 6.12 |
| 1995 | 589,261 | +3.8% | 93,825 | 6.28 |
| 1994 | 567,762 | +0.8% | 85,790 | 6.62 |
| 1993 | 563,008 | +1.9% | 83,703 | 6.73 |
| 1992 | 552,493 | +4.6% | 79,575 | 6.94 |
| 1991 | 528,074 | +0.0% | 75,757 | 6.97 |
| 1990 | 527,881 | +1.2% | 72,379 | 7.29 |
| 1989 | 521,840 | +1.6% | 68,305 | 7.64 |
| 1988 | 513,613 | +2.1% | 64,073 | 8.02 |
| 1987 | 502,810 | +9.9% | 64,328 | 7.82 |
| 1986 | 457,443 | +0.4% | 63,033 | 7.26 |
| 1985 | 455,730 | +0.3% | 59,787 | 7.62 |
| 1984 | 454,420 | +12% | 56,207 | 8.08 |
| 1983 | 406,722 | +1.8% | 55,481 | 7.33 |
| 1982 | 399,576 | +7.7% | 68,583 | 5.83 |
| 1981 | 371,038 | +8.4% | 62,330 | 5.95 |
| 1980 | 342,286 | −18% | 60,353 | 5.67 |
| 1979 | 418,281 | +1.7% | 62,483 | 6.69 |
| 1978 | 411,388 | +7.6% | 58,369 | 7.05 |
| 1977 | 382,297 | +49% | 53,599 | 7.13 |
| 1976 | 256,903 | −24% | 60,413 | 4.25 |
| 1975 | 337,283 | −6.3% | 53,121 | 6.35 |
| 1974 | 360,095 | +23% | 60,837 | 5.92 |
| 1973 | 293,014 | +56% | 34,566 | 8.48 |
| 1972 | 187,846 | −16% | 32,956 | 5.70 |
| 1971 | 224,278 | −6.6% | 31,061 | 7.22 |
| 1970 | 240,000 | +9.1% | 31,000 | 7.74 |
| 1969 | 220,000 | +10% | 30,000 | 7.33 |
| 1968 | 200,000 | +6.2% | 28,000 | 7.14 |
| 1967 | 188,330 | 0.0% | 26,000 | 7.24 |
| 1966 | 188,330 | +4.6% | 26,000 | 7.24 |
| 1965 | 180,000 | +2.9% | 25,000 | 7.20 |
| 1964 | 175,000 | +2.9% | 24,000 | 7.29 |
| 1963 | 170,000 | +3.0% | 23,500 | 7.23 |
| 1962 | 165,000 | +3.1% | 23,000 | 7.17 |
| 1961 | 160,000 | — | 22,000 | 7.27 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 351,434 t USD 452 m
- Exporter rank
- 1 of 98
- Imports
- 177 t USD 367,000
- Importer rank
- 115 of 178
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of dates in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia produced 1.9 million t in 2024, 19.4% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Saudi Arabia rank in the world for production of dates?
Saudi Arabia was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of Egypt.
How has the production of dates in Saudi Arabia changed?
It rose by 193% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +34% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
What is the yield of dates in Saudi Arabia?
7.5 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (1.9 million t from 257,613 ha), against a world average of 7.2 t/ha.
Does Saudi Arabia export or import dates?
In 2024 Saudi Arabia reported exports of 351,434 t (USD 452 m) and imports of 177 t (USD 367,000), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Saudi Arabia is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.