Sesame seed production in India
In 2024 India produced 866,111 t of sesame seed, the largest total in the world (13.0% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 4.6%. The record was 892,995 t in 2010. Area harvested: 1.6 million ha, yield 0.6 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 866,111 t
- World rank
- 1 of 69
- 10-year change
- +4.6%
- Record
- 892,995 t
- 2010
Sesame seed in India, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
India compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 13.0%
- 13.4% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.6
- world 0.6 (−2.2%)
- kg per person
- 0.60
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- +4.6%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; India is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 866,111 | +7.5% | 1,552,614 | 0.56 |
| 2023 | 805,474 | +106% | 1,488,224 | 0.54 |
| 2022 | 391,669 | −50% | 1,043,086 | 0.38 |
| 2021 | 788,744 | −3.4% | 1,627,045 | 0.48 |
| 2020 | 816,813 | +24% | 1,722,667 | 0.47 |
| 2019 | 657,498 | −4.6% | 1,622,602 | 0.41 |
| 2018 | 689,310 | −8.8% | 1,419,975 | 0.49 |
| 2017 | 755,425 | +1.1% | 1,579,767 | 0.48 |
| 2016 | 747,030 | −12% | 1,666,926 | 0.45 |
| 2015 | 850,065 | +2.7% | 1,950,880 | 0.44 |
| 2014 | 827,830 | +16% | 1,746,062 | 0.47 |
| 2013 | 714,582 | +4.3% | 1,678,903 | 0.43 |
| 2012 | 685,024 | −15% | 1,705,757 | 0.40 |
| 2011 | 810,272 | −9.3% | 1,901,550 | 0.43 |
| 2010 | 892,995 | +52% | 2,083,203 | 0.43 |
| 2009 | 588,419 | −8.1% | 1,942,064 | 0.30 |
| 2008 | 640,586 | −15% | 1,809,060 | 0.35 |
| 2007 | 757,186 | +22% | 1,799,100 | 0.42 |
| 2006 | 618,686 | −3.5% | 1,703,200 | 0.36 |
| 2005 | 641,100 | −4.9% | 1,723,200 | 0.37 |
| 2004 | 674,100 | −14% | 1,844,000 | 0.37 |
| 2003 | 782,386 | +77% | 1,700,300 | 0.46 |
| 2002 | 441,300 | −37% | 1,444,400 | 0.31 |
| 2001 | 697,800 | +34% | 1,670,600 | 0.42 |
| 2000 | 520,000 | +8.4% | 1,720,000 | 0.30 |
| 1999 | 479,900 | −9.5% | 1,560,200 | 0.31 |
| 1998 | 530,000 | −7.0% | 1,609,000 | 0.33 |
| 1997 | 569,980 | −11% | 1,660,000 | 0.34 |
| 1996 | 640,000 | +21% | 1,991,700 | 0.32 |
| 1995 | 531,000 | −9.5% | 1,825,900 | 0.29 |
| 1994 | 586,700 | +4.1% | 1,971,500 | 0.30 |
| 1993 | 563,700 | −26% | 2,217,400 | 0.25 |
| 1992 | 758,300 | +7.4% | 2,128,600 | 0.36 |
| 1991 | 705,900 | −15% | 2,626,800 | 0.27 |
| 1990 | 835,300 | +12% | 2,515,500 | 0.33 |
| 1989 | 745,100 | +9.3% | 2,386,500 | 0.31 |
| 1988 | 681,800 | +17% | 2,447,900 | 0.28 |
| 1987 | 583,100 | +30% | 2,153,300 | 0.27 |
| 1986 | 447,700 | −11% | 2,163,800 | 0.21 |
| 1985 | 501,000 | −3.8% | 2,217,400 | 0.23 |
| 1984 | 520,700 | −6.8% | 2,117,400 | 0.25 |
| 1983 | 558,800 | +1.3% | 2,203,600 | 0.25 |
| 1982 | 551,700 | −6.5% | 2,216,700 | 0.25 |
| 1981 | 590,200 | +32% | 2,593,200 | 0.23 |
| 1980 | 445,800 | +28% | 2,471,900 | 0.18 |
| 1979 | 347,700 | −32% | 2,377,200 | 0.15 |
| 1978 | 514,100 | −1.2% | 2,389,100 | 0.22 |
| 1977 | 520,200 | +23% | 2,384,300 | 0.22 |
| 1976 | 421,800 | −12% | 2,278,800 | 0.19 |
| 1975 | 479,200 | +22% | 2,170,100 | 0.22 |
| 1974 | 392,200 | −19% | 2,234,300 | 0.18 |
| 1973 | 484,600 | +26% | 2,385,800 | 0.20 |
| 1972 | 385,400 | −14% | 2,288,400 | 0.17 |
| 1971 | 449,500 | −20% | 2,391,500 | 0.19 |
| 1970 | 562,300 | +25% | 2,433,200 | 0.23 |
| 1969 | 448,100 | +6.1% | 2,308,700 | 0.19 |
| 1968 | 422,500 | −5.1% | 2,422,800 | 0.17 |
| 1967 | 445,000 | +7.0% | 2,654,300 | 0.17 |
| 1966 | 416,000 | −1.9% | 2,793,400 | 0.15 |
| 1965 | 424,000 | −12% | 2,509,000 | 0.17 |
| 1964 | 484,000 | +10% | 2,486,000 | 0.19 |
| 1963 | 439,000 | −11% | 2,412,000 | 0.18 |
| 1962 | 492,000 | +32% | 2,552,000 | 0.19 |
| 1961 | 372,000 | — | 2,252,000 | 0.17 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 244,269 t USD 497 m
- Exporter rank
- 3 of 124
- Imports
- 140,730 t USD 216 m
- Importer rank
- 4 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 India?
India produced 866,111 t in 2024, 13.0% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does India rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
India was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of Myanmar.
How has the production of sesame seed in India changed?
It rose by 4.6% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 892,995 t in 2010.
What is the yield of sesame seed in India?
0.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (866,111 t from 1.6 million ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does India export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 India reported exports of 244,269 t (USD 497 m) and imports of 140,730 t (USD 216 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. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
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.