> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/nigeria/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Sesame seed](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/)›NigeriaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# 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.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/sesame/)[Market prices in Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/country/nigeria/)

Production, 2024450,000 t
World rank4 of 69
10-year change+3.5%
Record994,800 t2012

## Sesame seed in Nigeria, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## Nigeria compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total6.7%7.1% in 2014
Yield, t/ha1.3world 0.6 (+126%)
kg per person1.93world 0.82
10-year change+3.5%world +8.4%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 | [Myanmar](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/myanmar/) | 720,000 | 10.8% |
| 3 | [Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/sudan/) | 626,173 | 9.4% |
| 4 | **Nigeria** | 450,000 | 6.7% |
| 5 | [Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/pakistan/) | 435,928 | 6.5% |
| 6 | [Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/ethiopia/) | 435,456 | 6.5% |

[Full ranking of 69 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/)

### Map of world production of sesame seed

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
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

Exports172,176 t USD 286 m
Exporter rank6 of 124
Imports463 t USD 1.2 m
Importer rank86 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](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/)

## 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.

## Other large producers

[India](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/india/)[Myanmar](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/myanmar/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/sudan/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/pakistan/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/ethiopia/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/brazil/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/china/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/chad/)[Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/tanzania/)[Burkina Faso](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/burkina-faso/)[Central African Republic](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/central-african-republic/)[South Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/south-sudan/)
[All countries producing sesame seed](https://husfarm.com/production/sesame-seed/)

## Other products of Nigeria

[Yams](https://husfarm.com/production/yams/nigeria/)[Cassava](https://husfarm.com/production/cassava/nigeria/)[Oil palm fruit](https://husfarm.com/production/oil-palm-fruit/nigeria/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/nigeria/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/nigeria/)[Taro](https://husfarm.com/production/taro/nigeria/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/nigeria/)[Bananas](https://husfarm.com/production/bananas/nigeria/)[Sorghum](https://husfarm.com/production/sorghum/nigeria/)[Groundnuts (peanuts)](https://husfarm.com/production/groundnuts/nigeria/)[Cow peas, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/nigeria/)[Other citrus fruit, n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-citrus-fruit/nigeria/)
[Agricultural production in Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/country/nigeria/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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