Sesame seed production in Sri Lanka
In 2024 Sri Lanka produced 10,503 t of sesame seed, the 37th largest in the world (0.16% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 25%. The record was 16,950 t in 2010. Area harvested: 13,164 ha, yield 0.8 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 10,503 t
- World rank
- 37 of 69
- 10-year change
- −25%
- Record
- 16,950 t
- 2010
Sesame seed in Sri Lanka, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Sri Lanka compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.16%
- 0.23% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.8
- world 0.6 (+40%)
- kg per person
- 0.45
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- −25%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Zimbabwe | 11,507 | 0.17% |
| 36 | Malawi | 10,934 | 0.16% |
| 37 | Sri Lanka | 10,503 | 0.16% |
| 38 | Benin | 10,000 | 0.15% |
| 39 | Cambodia | 10,000 | 0.15% |
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; Sri Lanka is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,503 | −7.5% | 13,164 | 0.80 |
| 2023 | 11,352 | +11% | 13,785 | 0.82 |
| 2022 | 10,230 | −15% | 16,222 | 0.63 |
| 2021 | 11,999 | +46% | 17,228 | 0.70 |
| 2020 | 8,223 | +35% | 11,654 | 0.71 |
| 2019 | 6,085 | −29% | 6,035 | 1.01 |
| 2018 | 8,589 | +11% | 11,873 | 0.72 |
| 2017 | 7,754 | −38% | 9,065 | 0.86 |
| 2016 | 12,414 | +3.5% | 14,044 | 0.88 |
| 2015 | 12,000 | −15% | 16,000 | 0.75 |
| 2014 | 14,077 | −1.1% | 14,474 | 0.97 |
| 2013 | 14,236 | +14% | 17,145 | 0.83 |
| 2012 | 12,500 | +11% | 15,560 | 0.80 |
| 2011 | 11,300 | −33% | 14,360 | 0.79 |
| 2010 | 16,950 | +99% | 18,390 | 0.92 |
| 2009 | 8,530 | +35% | 10,880 | 0.78 |
| 2008 | 6,340 | +0.6% | 9,510 | 0.67 |
| 2007 | 6,300 | +5.5% | 9,260 | 0.68 |
| 2006 | 5,970 | −3.1% | 9,340 | 0.64 |
| 2005 | 6,160 | +42% | 9,650 | 0.64 |
| 2004 | 4,350 | −21% | 6,990 | 0.62 |
| 2003 | 5,490 | +35% | 8,810 | 0.62 |
| 2002 | 4,070 | −3.3% | 6,580 | 0.62 |
| 2001 | 4,210 | −8.5% | 6,840 | 0.62 |
| 2000 | 4,600 | −3.6% | 7,760 | 0.59 |
| 1999 | 4,770 | −17% | 8,630 | 0.55 |
| 1998 | 5,724 | −14% | 10,355 | 0.55 |
| 1997 | 6,635 | +74% | 11,751 | 0.56 |
| 1996 | 3,817 | −15% | 7,567 | 0.50 |
| 1995 | 4,500 | −1.7% | 9,000 | 0.50 |
| 1994 | 4,577 | −6.6% | 8,959 | 0.51 |
| 1993 | 4,900 | +4.3% | 9,360 | 0.52 |
| 1992 | 4,700 | −13% | 12,050 | 0.39 |
| 1991 | 5,400 | +20% | 9,510 | 0.57 |
| 1990 | 4,500 | −2.2% | 8,730 | 0.52 |
| 1989 | 4,600 | −31% | 8,350 | 0.55 |
| 1988 | 6,700 | +8.8% | 12,560 | 0.53 |
| 1987 | 6,159 | −27% | 12,576 | 0.49 |
| 1986 | 8,398 | −3.5% | 14,328 | 0.59 |
| 1985 | 8,700 | +13% | 14,830 | 0.59 |
| 1984 | 7,700 | −49% | 14,400 | 0.53 |
| 1983 | 15,000 | +13% | 24,800 | 0.60 |
| 1982 | 13,225 | +28% | 31,625 | 0.42 |
| 1981 | 10,330 | −20% | 26,080 | 0.40 |
| 1980 | 12,947 | +27% | 30,201 | 0.43 |
| 1979 | 10,200 | +89% | 26,250 | 0.39 |
| 1978 | 5,400 | −53% | 12,400 | 0.44 |
| 1977 | 11,533 | +0.6% | 24,508 | 0.47 |
| 1976 | 11,469 | +35% | 25,786 | 0.44 |
| 1975 | 8,474 | +1.9% | 21,359 | 0.40 |
| 1974 | 8,319 | +20% | 19,878 | 0.42 |
| 1973 | 6,913 | +3.1% | 13,413 | 0.52 |
| 1972 | 6,706 | −16% | 13,439 | 0.50 |
| 1971 | 8,000 | −38% | 8,889 | 0.90 |
| 1970 | 13,000 | +63% | 11,989 | 1.08 |
| 1969 | 7,971 | +9.8% | 14,818 | 0.54 |
| 1968 | 7,262 | −0.2% | 13,657 | 0.53 |
| 1967 | 7,275 | +48% | 12,929 | 0.56 |
| 1966 | 4,914 | −27% | 10,494 | 0.47 |
| 1965 | 6,710 | −8.9% | 15,097 | 0.44 |
| 1964 | 7,366 | +0.1% | 15,400 | 0.48 |
| 1963 | 7,360 | −9.1% | 17,087 | 0.43 |
| 1962 | 8,098 | +53% | 16,528 | 0.49 |
| 1961 | 5,290 | — | 10,471 | 0.51 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 173 t USD 362,000
- Exporter rank
- 79 of 124
- Imports
- 22 t USD 44,000
- Importer rank
- 124 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 Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka produced 10,503 t in 2024, 0.16% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Sri Lanka rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
Sri Lanka ranked 37th 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 Sri Lanka changed?
It fell by 25% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 16,950 t in 2010.
What is the yield of sesame seed in Sri Lanka?
0.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (10,503 t from 13,164 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Sri Lanka export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 Sri Lanka reported exports of 173 t (USD 362,000) and imports of 22 t (USD 44,000), 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.