Sesame seed production in Afghanistan
In 2024 Afghanistan produced 28,799 t of sesame seed, the 27th largest in the world (0.43% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 10%. The record was 41,871 t in 2022. Area harvested: 45,287 ha, yield 0.6 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 28,799 t
- World rank
- 27 of 69
- 10-year change
- −10%
- Record
- 41,871 t
- 2022
Sesame seed in Afghanistan, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Afghanistan compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.43%
- 0.52% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.6
- world 0.6 (+12%)
- kg per person
- 0.68
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- −10%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Bangladesh | 29,997 | 0.45% |
| 26 | Iran | 29,000 | 0.43% |
| 27 | Afghanistan | 28,799 | 0.43% |
| 28 | Yemen | 20,500 | 0.31% |
| 29 | Venezuela | 20,362 | 0.30% |
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; Afghanistan is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28,799 | +106% | 45,287 | 0.64 |
| 2023 | 14,000 | −67% | 20,000 | 0.70 |
| 2022 | 41,871 | +120% | 48,793 | 0.86 |
| 2021 | 19,000 | −55% | 27,472 | 0.69 |
| 2020 | 41,855 | +26% | 64,862 | 0.65 |
| 2019 | 33,139 | +3.6% | 71,081 | 0.47 |
| 2018 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 15,000 | 2.13 |
| 2017 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 15,000 | 2.13 |
| 2016 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 15,000 | 2.13 |
| 2015 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 15,000 | 2.13 |
| 2014 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 16,000 | 2.00 |
| 2013 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 12,000 | 2.67 |
| 2012 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 12,000 | 2.67 |
| 2011 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 15,000 | 2.13 |
| 2010 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 47,000 | 0.68 |
| 2009 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 47,000 | 0.68 |
| 2008 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 47,000 | 0.68 |
| 2007 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 47,000 | 0.68 |
| 2006 | 32,000 | 0.0% | 47,000 | 0.68 |
| 2005 | 32,000 | +3.2% | 47,000 | 0.68 |
| 2004 | 31,000 | +3.3% | 45,000 | 0.69 |
| 2003 | 30,000 | +30% | 44,000 | 0.68 |
| 2002 | 23,000 | 0.0% | 35,000 | 0.66 |
| 2001 | 23,000 | 0.0% | 35,000 | 0.66 |
| 2000 | 23,000 | 0.0% | 35,000 | 0.66 |
| 1999 | 23,000 | +4.5% | 35,000 | 0.66 |
| 1998 | 22,000 | 0.0% | 35,000 | 0.63 |
| 1997 | 22,000 | 0.0% | 35,000 | 0.63 |
| 1996 | 22,000 | −8.3% | 36,000 | 0.61 |
| 1995 | 24,000 | −7.7% | 36,000 | 0.67 |
| 1994 | 26,000 | +8.3% | 36,000 | 0.72 |
| 1993 | 24,000 | −14% | 36,000 | 0.67 |
| 1992 | 28,000 | +17% | 36,000 | 0.78 |
| 1991 | 24,000 | −2.4% | 36,000 | 0.67 |
| 1990 | 24,600 | −2.4% | 40,000 | 0.62 |
| 1989 | 25,200 | −2.3% | 42,000 | 0.60 |
| 1988 | 25,800 | −2.3% | 44,000 | 0.59 |
| 1987 | 26,400 | −2.2% | 46,000 | 0.57 |
| 1986 | 27,000 | 0.0% | 48,000 | 0.56 |
| 1985 | 27,000 | 0.0% | 48,000 | 0.56 |
| 1984 | 27,000 | 0.0% | 48,000 | 0.56 |
| 1983 | 27,000 | 0.0% | 48,000 | 0.56 |
| 1982 | 27,000 | +2.3% | 49,200 | 0.55 |
| 1981 | 26,400 | +2.3% | 48,000 | 0.55 |
| 1980 | 25,800 | +2.4% | 47,600 | 0.54 |
| 1979 | 25,200 | +20% | 47,200 | 0.53 |
| 1978 | 21,000 | −2.8% | 40,000 | 0.53 |
| 1977 | 21,600 | −10.0% | 40,000 | 0.54 |
| 1976 | 24,000 | 0.0% | 40,000 | 0.60 |
| 1975 | 24,000 | 0.0% | 40,000 | 0.60 |
| 1974 | 24,000 | +5.3% | 35,760 | 0.67 |
| 1973 | 22,800 | +12% | 36,000 | 0.63 |
| 1972 | 20,400 | +21% | 34,000 | 0.60 |
| 1971 | 16,800 | −20% | 33,600 | 0.50 |
| 1970 | 21,000 | −5.4% | 33,200 | 0.63 |
| 1969 | 22,200 | +2.8% | 33,200 | 0.67 |
| 1968 | 21,600 | +2.9% | 32,800 | 0.66 |
| 1967 | 21,000 | 0.0% | 33,200 | 0.63 |
| 1966 | 21,000 | +6.1% | 33,200 | 0.63 |
| 1965 | 19,800 | +3.1% | 33,200 | 0.60 |
| 1964 | 19,200 | 0.0% | 33,200 | 0.58 |
| 1963 | 19,200 | 0.0% | 33,200 | 0.58 |
| 1962 | 19,200 | +1.1% | 33,200 | 0.58 |
| 1961 | 19,000 | — | 33,200 | 0.57 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 3,059 t USD 7.3 m
- Exporter rank
- 33 of 124
- Imports
- 6,908 t USD 4.3 m
- Importer rank
- 35 of 167
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 sesame seed in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan produced 28,799 t in 2024, 0.43% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Afghanistan rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
Afghanistan ranked 27th of 69 countries in 2024. The largest producer was India with 13.0% of the world total.
How has the production of sesame seed in Afghanistan changed?
It fell by 10% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 41,871 t in 2022.
What is the yield of sesame seed in Afghanistan?
0.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (28,799 t from 45,287 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Afghanistan export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 Afghanistan reported exports of 3,059 t (USD 7.3 m) and imports of 6,908 t (USD 4.3 m), 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 Afghanistan 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.