Sesame seed production in Saudi Arabia
In 2024 Saudi Arabia produced 4,367 t of sesame seed, the 47th largest in the world (0.07% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 25%. The record was 5,348 t in 2006. Area harvested: 3,592 ha, yield 1.2 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 4,367 t
- World rank
- 47 of 69
- 10-year change
- +25%
- Record
- 5,348 t
- 2006
Sesame seed in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Saudi Arabia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.07%
- 0.06% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.2
- world 0.6 (+113%)
- kg per person
- 0.13
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- +25%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Eritrea | 4,870 | 0.07% |
| 46 | DR Congo | 4,565 | 0.07% |
| 47 | Saudi Arabia | 4,367 | 0.07% |
| 48 | Haiti | 4,182 | 0.06% |
| 49 | Guinea | 3,386 | 0.05% |
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; Saudi Arabia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,367 | +3.6% | 3,592 | 1.22 |
| 2023 | 4,214 | +2.9% | 4,296 | 0.98 |
| 2022 | 4,095 | +0.2% | 3,280 | 1.25 |
| 2021 | 4,088 | +1.9% | 3,145 | 1.30 |
| 2020 | 4,012 | −2.6% | 3,056 | 1.31 |
| 2019 | 4,119 | +34% | 1,663 | 2.48 |
| 2018 | 3,085 | −5.3% | 1,663 | 1.86 |
| 2017 | 3,258 | +23% | 1,729 | 1.88 |
| 2016 | 2,639 | −31% | 1,833 | 1.44 |
| 2015 | 3,839 | +10% | 1,943 | 1.98 |
| 2014 | 3,485 | −27% | 2,060 | 1.69 |
| 2013 | 4,786 | +8.0% | 2,507 | 1.91 |
| 2012 | 4,431 | −2.4% | 2,514 | 1.76 |
| 2011 | 4,538 | −2.7% | 2,621 | 1.73 |
| 2010 | 4,664 | −5.7% | 2,735 | 1.71 |
| 2009 | 4,948 | −4.0% | 2,925 | 1.69 |
| 2008 | 5,156 | −3.0% | 3,114 | 1.66 |
| 2007 | 5,316 | −0.6% | 3,261 | 1.63 |
| 2006 | 5,348 | +7.7% | 3,049 | 1.75 |
| 2005 | 4,964 | +1.3% | 2,933 | 1.69 |
| 2004 | 4,900 | +96% | 2,920 | 1.68 |
| 2003 | 2,497 | −11% | 1,675 | 1.49 |
| 2002 | 2,819 | +26% | 1,735 | 1.62 |
| 2001 | 2,241 | −34% | 1,816 | 1.23 |
| 2000 | 3,400 | +70% | 2,350 | 1.45 |
| 1999 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 2,114 | 0.95 |
| 1998 | 2,000 | −8.4% | 2,300 | 0.87 |
| 1997 | 2,184 | +5.8% | 2,351 | 0.93 |
| 1996 | 2,064 | +1.9% | 2,647 | 0.78 |
| 1995 | 2,025 | +12% | 2,605 | 0.78 |
| 1994 | 1,810 | −16% | 2,328 | 0.78 |
| 1993 | 2,154 | −5.1% | 2,603 | 0.83 |
| 1992 | 2,270 | +81% | 2,700 | 0.84 |
| 1991 | 1,252 | −20% | 1,390 | 0.90 |
| 1990 | 1,574 | −58% | 3,743 | 0.42 |
| 1989 | 3,708 | −4.8% | 3,531 | 1.05 |
| 1988 | 3,896 | −26% | 3,331 | 1.17 |
| 1987 | 5,249 | +157% | 4,201 | 1.25 |
| 1986 | 2,043 | −26% | 2,647 | 0.77 |
| 1985 | 2,753 | −34% | 3,338 | 0.82 |
| 1984 | 4,196 | +83% | 4,064 | 1.03 |
| 1983 | 2,289 | +147% | 3,592 | 0.64 |
| 1982 | 926 | −19% | 2,095 | 0.44 |
| 1981 | 1,144 | +0.4% | 1,767 | 0.65 |
| 1980 | 1,139 | −32% | 1,704 | 0.67 |
| 1979 | 1,665 | +25% | 1,813 | 0.92 |
| 1978 | 1,329 | −29% | 1,175 | 1.13 |
| 1977 | 1,862 | +15% | 3,185 | 0.58 |
| 1976 | 1,614 | +251% | 3,809 | 0.42 |
| 1975 | 460 | −49% | 1,750 | 0.26 |
| 1974 | 909 | +969% | 3,160 | 0.29 |
| 1973 | 85 | −79% | 656 | 0.13 |
| 1972 | 408 | −74% | 1,672 | 0.24 |
| 1971 | 1,597 | −11% | 3,000 | 0.53 |
| 1970 | 1,800 | +5.9% | 2,700 | 0.67 |
| 1969 | 1,700 | −5.6% | 2,500 | 0.68 |
| 1968 | 1,800 | +5.9% | 2,253 | 0.80 |
| 1967 | 1,700 | +6.3% | 2,100 | 0.81 |
| 1966 | 1,600 | 0.0% | 2,000 | 0.80 |
| 1965 | 1,600 | +3.2% | 2,000 | 0.80 |
| 1964 | 1,550 | 0.0% | 1,900 | 0.82 |
| 1963 | 1,550 | +3.3% | 1,900 | 0.82 |
| 1962 | 1,500 | 0.0% | 1,800 | 0.83 |
| 1961 | 1,500 | — | 1,800 | 0.83 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 289 t USD 580,000
- Exporter rank
- 70 of 124
- Imports
- 61,722 t USD 103 m
- Importer rank
- 7 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 Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia produced 4,367 t in 2024, 0.07% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Saudi Arabia rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
Saudi Arabia ranked 47th 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 Saudi Arabia changed?
It rose by 25% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 5,348 t in 2006.
What is the yield of sesame seed in Saudi Arabia?
1.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (4,367 t from 3,592 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Saudi Arabia export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 Saudi Arabia reported exports of 289 t (USD 580,000) and imports of 61,722 t (USD 103 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 Saudi Arabia is imputed by FAO. 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.