Sesame seed production in Cameroon
In 2024 Cameroon produced 75,000 t of sesame seed, the 17th largest in the world (1.12% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 32%. The record was 80,302 t in 2018. Area harvested: 60,000 ha, yield 1.3 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is from an external organisation.
- Production, 2024
- 75,000 t
- World rank
- 17 of 69
- 10-year change
- +32%
- Record
- 80,302 t
- 2018
Sesame seed in Cameroon, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Cameroon compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.1%
- 0.92% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.3
- world 0.6 (+119%)
- kg per person
- 2.58
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- +32%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Niger | 141,025 | 2.1% |
| 16 | Uganda | 140,000 | 2.1% |
| 17 | Cameroon | 75,000 | 1.1% |
| 18 | Mali | 51,242 | 0.77% |
| 19 | Senegal | 45,000 | 0.67% |
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; Cameroon is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75,000 | +7.1% | 60,000 | 1.25 |
| 2023 | 70,000 | 0.0% | 60,000 | 1.17 |
| 2022 | 70,000 | 0.0% | 58,000 | 1.21 |
| 2021 | 70,000 | −7.7% | 58,000 | 1.21 |
| 2020 | 75,822 | +4.4% | 60,767 | 1.25 |
| 2019 | 72,649 | −9.5% | 57,903 | 1.25 |
| 2018 | 80,302 | +8.5% | 60,780 | 1.32 |
| 2017 | 74,017 | +8.2% | 48,742 | 1.52 |
| 2016 | 68,422 | +12% | 52,120 | 1.31 |
| 2015 | 60,984 | +7.7% | 47,848 | 1.27 |
| 2014 | 56,612 | +15% | 43,326 | 1.31 |
| 2013 | 49,130 | −3.3% | 70,186 | 0.70 |
| 2012 | 50,803 | +14% | 62,013 | 0.82 |
| 2011 | 44,563 | +255% | 64,919 | 0.69 |
| 2010 | 12,544 | +8.2% | 30,386 | 0.41 |
| 2009 | 11,595 | +14% | 29,805 | 0.39 |
| 2008 | 10,128 | +3.1% | 26,897 | 0.38 |
| 2007 | 9,820 | +30% | 22,148 | 0.44 |
| 2006 | 7,554 | +6.2% | 27,000 | 0.28 |
| 2005 | 7,113 | +5.4% | 30,123 | 0.24 |
| 2004 | 6,747 | +3.6% | 28,552 | 0.24 |
| 2003 | 6,514 | +3.5% | 27,021 | 0.24 |
| 2002 | 6,293 | −21% | 25,572 | 0.25 |
| 2001 | 7,917 | +35% | 20,000 | 0.40 |
| 2000 | 5,875 | +98% | 21,030 | 0.28 |
| 1999 | 2,962 | +60% | 21,061 | 0.14 |
| 1998 | 1,855 | +18% | 15,897 | 0.12 |
| 1997 | 1,571 | −30% | 15,356 | 0.10 |
| 1996 | 2,243 | −3.0% | 18,105 | 0.12 |
| 1995 | 2,312 | −6.2% | 19,196 | 0.12 |
| 1994 | 2,464 | −18% | 20,376 | 0.12 |
| 1993 | 3,000 | +4.5% | 21,000 | 0.14 |
| 1992 | 2,872 | −19% | 19,355 | 0.15 |
| 1991 | 3,524 | −16% | 20,507 | 0.17 |
| 1990 | 4,214 | +5.4% | 26,305 | 0.16 |
| 1989 | 4,000 | 0.0% | 26,000 | 0.15 |
| 1988 | 4,000 | 0.0% | 26,000 | 0.15 |
| 1987 | 4,000 | 0.0% | 26,000 | 0.15 |
| 1986 | 4,000 | −20% | 26,000 | 0.15 |
| 1985 | 5,000 | 0.0% | 27,000 | 0.19 |
| 1984 | 5,000 | 0.0% | 27,000 | 0.19 |
| 1983 | 5,000 | 0.0% | 27,000 | 0.19 |
| 1982 | 5,000 | 0.0% | 27,000 | 0.19 |
| 1981 | 5,000 | 0.0% | 27,000 | 0.19 |
| 1980 | 5,000 | −8.3% | 27,000 | 0.19 |
| 1979 | 5,450 | −1.5% | 30,000 | 0.18 |
| 1978 | 5,532 | −65% | 30,000 | 0.18 |
| 1977 | 15,624 | +10% | 30,000 | 0.52 |
| 1976 | 14,141 | +70% | 28,000 | 0.51 |
| 1975 | 8,333 | +46% | 15,000 | 0.56 |
| 1974 | 5,698 | +13% | 9,676 | 0.59 |
| 1973 | 5,055 | −11% | 10,877 | 0.46 |
| 1972 | 5,700 | −16% | 11,250 | 0.51 |
| 1971 | 6,787 | +34% | 17,815 | 0.38 |
| 1970 | 5,047 | −1.8% | 14,637 | 0.34 |
| 1969 | 5,140 | +36% | 14,072 | 0.37 |
| 1968 | 3,770 | +9.3% | 11,207 | 0.34 |
| 1967 | 3,449 | +75% | 10,436 | 0.33 |
| 1966 | 1,974 | +25% | 4,832 | 0.41 |
| 1965 | 1,583 | −51% | 5,747 | 0.28 |
| 1964 | 3,231 | +35% | 6,522 | 0.50 |
| 1963 | 2,389 | −48% | 7,700 | 0.31 |
| 1962 | 4,635 | +83% | 7,430 | 0.62 |
| 1961 | 2,532 | — | 7,760 | 0.33 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 190 t USD 279,000
- Exporter rank
- 77 of 124
- Imports
- 1 t USD 3,000
- Importer rank
- 160 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 Cameroon?
Cameroon produced 75,000 t in 2024, 1.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Cameroon rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
Cameroon ranked 17th 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 Cameroon changed?
It rose by 32% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 80,302 t in 2018.
What is the yield of sesame seed in Cameroon?
1.3 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (75,000 t from 60,000 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Cameroon export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 Cameroon reported exports of 190 t (USD 279,000) and imports of 1 t (USD 3,000), 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 Cameroon is from an external organisation. 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.