Sesame seed production in Kenya
In 2024 Kenya produced 6,005 t of sesame seed, the 44th largest in the world (0.09% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 51%. The record was 13,000 t in 1994. Area harvested: 8,687 ha, yield 0.7 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 6,005 t
- World rank
- 44 of 69
- 10-year change
- −51%
- Record
- 13,000 t
- 1994
Sesame seed in Kenya, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Kenya compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.09%
- 0.20% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.7
- world 0.6 (+21%)
- kg per person
- 0.11
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- −51%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Laos | 8,700 | 0.13% |
| 43 | Sierra Leone | 7,043 | 0.11% |
| 44 | Kenya | 6,005 | 0.09% |
| 45 | Eritrea | 4,870 | 0.07% |
| 46 | DR Congo | 4,565 | 0.07% |
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; Kenya is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,005 | +57% | 8,687 | 0.69 |
| 2023 | 3,820 | +20% | 5,943 | 0.64 |
| 2022 | 3,192 | +12% | 5,352 | 0.60 |
| 2021 | 2,845 | −74% | 5,203 | 0.55 |
| 2020 | 10,773 | +1.1% | 12,526 | 0.86 |
| 2019 | 10,658 | +25% | 12,460 | 0.86 |
| 2018 | 8,496 | +114% | 12,321 | 0.69 |
| 2017 | 3,974 | −66% | 4,474 | 0.89 |
| 2016 | 11,797 | +8.3% | 28,190 | 0.42 |
| 2015 | 10,894 | −11% | 26,120 | 0.42 |
| 2014 | 12,297 | +0.8% | 29,451 | 0.42 |
| 2013 | 12,200 | +1.7% | 29,000 | 0.42 |
| 2012 | 12,000 | +3.5% | 28,500 | 0.42 |
| 2011 | 11,597 | +2.2% | 27,617 | 0.42 |
| 2010 | 11,342 | +2.4% | 27,083 | 0.42 |
| 2009 | 11,077 | +2.4% | 26,539 | 0.42 |
| 2008 | 10,821 | +3.6% | 26,020 | 0.42 |
| 2007 | 10,449 | +1.5% | 25,224 | 0.41 |
| 2006 | 10,295 | +3.0% | 24,942 | 0.41 |
| 2005 | 10,000 | 0.0% | 25,137 | 0.40 |
| 2004 | 10,000 | 0.0% | 25,174 | 0.40 |
| 2003 | 10,000 | 0.0% | 25,052 | 0.40 |
| 2002 | 10,000 | −1.5% | 24,921 | 0.40 |
| 2001 | 10,156 | +1.6% | 25,150 | 0.40 |
| 2000 | 10,000 | −9.1% | 26,000 | 0.38 |
| 1999 | 11,000 | −15% | 27,000 | 0.41 |
| 1998 | 13,000 | +8.3% | 29,000 | 0.45 |
| 1997 | 12,000 | +9.1% | 28,000 | 0.43 |
| 1996 | 11,000 | −8.3% | 27,000 | 0.41 |
| 1995 | 12,000 | −7.7% | 28,000 | 0.43 |
| 1994 | 13,000 | +8.3% | 29,000 | 0.45 |
| 1993 | 12,000 | +20% | 28,000 | 0.43 |
| 1992 | 10,000 | +11% | 25,000 | 0.40 |
| 1991 | 9,000 | +5.9% | 23,000 | 0.39 |
| 1990 | 8,500 | +6.3% | 21,500 | 0.40 |
| 1989 | 8,000 | +2.6% | 20,400 | 0.39 |
| 1988 | 7,800 | +4.0% | 20,200 | 0.39 |
| 1987 | 7,500 | +4.2% | 20,000 | 0.38 |
| 1986 | 7,200 | +2.9% | 19,800 | 0.36 |
| 1985 | 7,000 | +13% | 19,500 | 0.36 |
| 1984 | 6,200 | +3.3% | 18,000 | 0.34 |
| 1983 | 6,000 | +396% | 20,000 | 0.30 |
| 1982 | 1,209 | −85% | 4,982 | 0.24 |
| 1981 | 8,000 | 0.0% | 20,200 | 0.40 |
| 1980 | 8,000 | +2.6% | 20,000 | 0.40 |
| 1979 | 7,800 | +11% | 19,000 | 0.41 |
| 1978 | 7,000 | +7.7% | 17,200 | 0.41 |
| 1977 | 6,500 | +8.3% | 16,000 | 0.41 |
| 1976 | 6,000 | +13% | 15,000 | 0.40 |
| 1975 | 5,300 | +13% | 13,000 | 0.41 |
| 1974 | 4,700 | +12% | 11,750 | 0.40 |
| 1973 | 4,200 | +7.7% | 10,500 | 0.40 |
| 1972 | 3,900 | +11% | 9,700 | 0.40 |
| 1971 | 3,500 | +17% | 8,700 | 0.40 |
| 1970 | 3,000 | 0.0% | 7,500 | 0.40 |
| 1969 | 3,000 | 0.0% | 7,500 | 0.40 |
| 1968 | 3,000 | 0.0% | 7,500 | 0.40 |
| 1967 | 3,000 | +168% | 7,500 | 0.40 |
| 1966 | 1,118 | 0.0% | 2,870 | 0.39 |
| 1965 | 1,118 | +175% | 2,870 | 0.39 |
| 1964 | 406 | −73% | 1,041 | 0.39 |
| 1963 | 1,524 | −6.3% | 3,910 | 0.39 |
| 1962 | 1,626 | −11% | 4,170 | 0.39 |
| 1961 | 1,829 | — | 4,690 | 0.39 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 1,129 t USD 1.6 m
- Exporter rank
- 50 of 124
- Imports
- 894 t USD 1.4 m
- Importer rank
- 73 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 Kenya?
Kenya produced 6,005 t in 2024, 0.09% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Kenya rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
Kenya ranked 44th 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 Kenya changed?
It fell by 51% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 13,000 t in 1994.
What is the yield of sesame seed in Kenya?
0.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (6,005 t from 8,687 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Kenya export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 Kenya reported exports of 1,129 t (USD 1.6 m) and imports of 894 t (USD 1.4 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.
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.