Sesame seed production in Nigeria
In 2024 Nigeria produced 450,000 t of sesame seed, the 4th largest in the world (6.73% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 3.5%. The record was 994,800 t in 2012. Area harvested: 350,000 ha, yield 1.3 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is from an external organisation.
- Production, 2024
- 450,000 t
- World rank
- 4 of 69
- 10-year change
- +3.5%
- Record
- 994,800 t
- 2012
Sesame seed in Nigeria, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Nigeria compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 6.7%
- 7.1% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.3
- world 0.6 (+126%)
- kg per person
- 1.93
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- +3.5%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Myanmar | 720,000 | 10.8% |
| 3 | Sudan | 626,173 | 9.4% |
| 4 | Nigeria | 450,000 | 6.7% |
| 5 | Pakistan | 435,928 | 6.5% |
| 6 | Ethiopia | 435,456 | 6.5% |
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; Nigeria is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 450,000 | 0.0% | 350,000 | 1.29 |
| 2023 | 450,000 | +7.1% | 350,000 | 1.29 |
| 2022 | 420,000 | −4.5% | 340,000 | 1.24 |
| 2021 | 440,000 | +125% | 506,666 | 0.87 |
| 2020 | 195,427 | −63% | 351,413 | 0.56 |
| 2019 | 523,430 | +0.1% | 782,590 | 0.67 |
| 2018 | 522,730 | −17% | 785,800 | 0.67 |
| 2017 | 632,317 | +6.5% | 1,012,730 | 0.62 |
| 2016 | 593,604 | +37% | 928,467 | 0.64 |
| 2015 | 432,900 | −0.5% | 470,100 | 0.92 |
| 2014 | 434,990 | −26% | 559,900 | 0.78 |
| 2013 | 584,980 | −41% | 526,900 | 1.11 |
| 2012 | 994,800 | +334% | 499,100 | 1.99 |
| 2011 | 229,167 | +53% | 325,000 | 0.71 |
| 2010 | 149,410 | +25% | 324,570 | 0.46 |
| 2009 | 119,710 | −1.6% | 308,230 | 0.39 |
| 2008 | 121,610 | +3.3% | 317,080 | 0.38 |
| 2007 | 117,700 | +18% | 299,280 | 0.39 |
| 2006 | 100,000 | 0.0% | 197,000 | 0.51 |
| 2005 | 100,000 | +28% | 196,000 | 0.51 |
| 2004 | 78,000 | −2.5% | 165,000 | 0.47 |
| 2003 | 80,000 | +9.6% | 167,000 | 0.48 |
| 2002 | 73,000 | −1.4% | 166,000 | 0.44 |
| 2001 | 74,000 | +2.8% | 153,000 | 0.48 |
| 2000 | 72,000 | +4.3% | 151,000 | 0.48 |
| 1999 | 69,000 | +4.5% | 143,700 | 0.48 |
| 1998 | 66,000 | 0.0% | 143,000 | 0.46 |
| 1997 | 66,000 | +3.1% | 140,000 | 0.47 |
| 1996 | 64,000 | +6.7% | 139,000 | 0.46 |
| 1995 | 60,000 | +7.1% | 133,000 | 0.45 |
| 1994 | 56,000 | +7.7% | 126,700 | 0.44 |
| 1993 | 52,000 | +6.1% | 129,400 | 0.40 |
| 1992 | 49,000 | +6.5% | 122,100 | 0.40 |
| 1991 | 46,000 | +4.5% | 115,000 | 0.40 |
| 1990 | 44,000 | +10% | 110,000 | 0.40 |
| 1989 | 40,000 | +11% | 100,000 | 0.40 |
| 1988 | 36,000 | +5.9% | 90,000 | 0.40 |
| 1987 | 34,000 | −2.9% | 85,500 | 0.40 |
| 1986 | 35,000 | 0.0% | 104,700 | 0.33 |
| 1985 | 35,000 | +13% | 116,700 | 0.30 |
| 1984 | 31,000 | +3.3% | 103,300 | 0.30 |
| 1983 | 30,000 | −32% | 100,000 | 0.30 |
| 1982 | 44,000 | +4.8% | 145,000 | 0.30 |
| 1981 | 42,000 | +2.4% | 140,000 | 0.30 |
| 1980 | 41,000 | +5.1% | 135,000 | 0.30 |
| 1979 | 39,000 | +2.6% | 130,000 | 0.30 |
| 1978 | 38,000 | 0.0% | 130,000 | 0.29 |
| 1977 | 38,000 | +2.7% | 128,000 | 0.30 |
| 1976 | 37,000 | +2.8% | 125,000 | 0.30 |
| 1975 | 36,000 | 0.0% | 125,000 | 0.29 |
| 1974 | 36,000 | +2.9% | 122,000 | 0.30 |
| 1973 | 35,000 | +6.1% | 120,000 | 0.29 |
| 1972 | 33,000 | +3.1% | 117,000 | 0.28 |
| 1971 | 32,000 | +6.7% | 114,000 | 0.28 |
| 1970 | 30,000 | −48% | 107,000 | 0.28 |
| 1969 | 58,000 | +5.5% | 200,000 | 0.29 |
| 1968 | 55,000 | +3.8% | 190,000 | 0.29 |
| 1967 | 53,000 | −17% | 185,000 | 0.29 |
| 1966 | 64,000 | +4.9% | 220,000 | 0.29 |
| 1965 | 61,000 | +8.9% | 210,000 | 0.29 |
| 1964 | 56,000 | +5.7% | 195,000 | 0.29 |
| 1963 | 53,000 | −12% | 185,000 | 0.29 |
| 1962 | 60,000 | +7.1% | 210,000 | 0.29 |
| 1961 | 56,000 | — | 200,000 | 0.28 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 172,176 t USD 286 m
- Exporter rank
- 6 of 124
- Imports
- 463 t USD 1.2 m
- Importer rank
- 86 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 Nigeria?
Nigeria produced 450,000 t in 2024, 6.7% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Nigeria rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
Nigeria ranked 4th 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 Nigeria changed?
It rose by 3.5% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 994,800 t in 2012.
What is the yield of sesame seed in Nigeria?
1.3 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (450,000 t from 350,000 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Nigeria export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 Nigeria reported exports of 172,176 t (USD 286 m) and imports of 463 t (USD 1.2 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 Nigeria is from an external organisation. 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.