Sesame seed production in Tanzania
In 2024 Tanzania produced 272,670 t of sesame seed, the 10th largest in the world (4.08% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 50%. The record was 730,000 t in 2016. Area harvested: 366,464 ha, yield 0.7 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 272,670 t
- World rank
- 10 of 69
- 10-year change
- −50%
- Record
- 730,000 t
- 2016
Sesame seed in Tanzania, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Tanzania compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 4.1%
- 8.8% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.7
- world 0.6 (+31%)
- kg per person
- 3.98
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- −50%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | China | 380,000 | 5.7% |
| 9 | Chad | 291,397 | 4.4% |
| 10 | Tanzania | 272,670 | 4.1% |
| 11 | Burkina Faso | 272,201 | 4.1% |
| 12 | Central African Republic | 204,399 | 3.1% |
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; Tanzania is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 272,670 | +2.1% | 366,464 | 0.74 |
| 2023 | 266,994 | +237% | 362,294 | 0.74 |
| 2022 | 79,170 | −66% | 108,512 | 0.73 |
| 2021 | 236,162 | +3.2% | 319,517 | 0.74 |
| 2020 | 228,920 | −66% | 317,118 | 0.72 |
| 2019 | 680,000 | +6.3% | 940,000 | 0.72 |
| 2018 | 640,000 | +3.2% | 900,000 | 0.71 |
| 2017 | 620,000 | −15% | 850,000 | 0.73 |
| 2016 | 730,000 | +7.4% | 1,010,000 | 0.72 |
| 2015 | 680,000 | +26% | 978,824 | 0.69 |
| 2014 | 540,000 | +29% | 928,243 | 0.58 |
| 2013 | 420,000 | −7.9% | 859,951 | 0.49 |
| 2012 | 456,000 | +28% | 651,735 | 0.70 |
| 2011 | 357,162 | +147% | 510,472 | 0.70 |
| 2010 | 144,420 | +60% | 203,420 | 0.71 |
| 2009 | 90,000 | +92% | 153,270 | 0.59 |
| 2008 | 46,767 | −70% | 139,890 | 0.33 |
| 2007 | 155,794 | +225% | 120,000 | 1.30 |
| 2006 | 48,000 | −54% | 120,000 | 0.40 |
| 2005 | 103,640 | +54% | 156,250 | 0.66 |
| 2004 | 67,410 | +64% | 124,130 | 0.54 |
| 2003 | 41,000 | −26% | 105,000 | 0.39 |
| 2002 | 55,100 | +284% | 72,560 | 0.76 |
| 2001 | 14,360 | −63% | 32,880 | 0.44 |
| 2000 | 39,000 | −2.5% | 100,000 | 0.39 |
| 1999 | 40,000 | +11% | 103,000 | 0.39 |
| 1998 | 36,000 | +9.1% | 90,000 | 0.40 |
| 1997 | 33,000 | 0.0% | 85,000 | 0.39 |
| 1996 | 33,000 | +6.5% | 86,000 | 0.38 |
| 1995 | 31,000 | +3.3% | 84,000 | 0.37 |
| 1994 | 30,000 | +3.4% | 82,000 | 0.37 |
| 1993 | 29,000 | +3.6% | 83,000 | 0.35 |
| 1992 | 28,000 | −6.7% | 82,000 | 0.34 |
| 1991 | 30,000 | +3.4% | 98,475 | 0.30 |
| 1990 | 29,000 | +3.6% | 84,000 | 0.35 |
| 1989 | 28,000 | +3.7% | 83,000 | 0.34 |
| 1988 | 27,000 | +3.8% | 82,000 | 0.33 |
| 1987 | 26,000 | +4.0% | 81,000 | 0.32 |
| 1986 | 25,000 | +4.2% | 81,000 | 0.31 |
| 1985 | 24,000 | +4.3% | 80,000 | 0.30 |
| 1984 | 23,000 | +4.5% | 79,000 | 0.29 |
| 1983 | 22,000 | +4.8% | 76,000 | 0.29 |
| 1982 | 21,000 | +5.0% | 75,000 | 0.28 |
| 1981 | 20,000 | +33% | 65,000 | 0.31 |
| 1980 | 15,000 | −16% | 55,000 | 0.27 |
| 1979 | 17,814 | +18% | 65,000 | 0.27 |
| 1978 | 15,069 | +32% | 55,000 | 0.27 |
| 1977 | 11,379 | +96% | 40,000 | 0.28 |
| 1976 | 5,809 | −42% | 23,000 | 0.25 |
| 1975 | 10,000 | +2.6% | 38,000 | 0.26 |
| 1974 | 9,747 | −15% | 40,000 | 0.24 |
| 1973 | 11,515 | +44% | 43,000 | 0.27 |
| 1972 | 8,015 | −24% | 35,000 | 0.23 |
| 1971 | 10,526 | −7.0% | 43,000 | 0.24 |
| 1970 | 11,315 | −3.4% | 43,000 | 0.26 |
| 1969 | 11,712 | +4.7% | 43,000 | 0.27 |
| 1968 | 11,186 | +1.2% | 41,150 | 0.27 |
| 1967 | 11,051 | +23% | 37,000 | 0.30 |
| 1966 | 8,949 | −25% | 47,310 | 0.19 |
| 1965 | 11,971 | +2.2% | 43,300 | 0.28 |
| 1964 | 11,708 | +7.3% | 40,000 | 0.29 |
| 1963 | 10,908 | +19% | 39,000 | 0.28 |
| 1962 | 9,144 | −25% | 30,000 | 0.30 |
| 1961 | 12,193 | — | 35,000 | 0.35 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 196,742 t USD 268 m
- Exporter rank
- 5 of 124
- Imports
- 845 t USD 222,000
- Importer rank
- 75 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 Tanzania?
Tanzania produced 272,670 t in 2024, 4.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Tanzania rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
Tanzania ranked 10th 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 Tanzania changed?
It fell by 50% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 730,000 t in 2016.
What is the yield of sesame seed in Tanzania?
0.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (272,670 t from 366,464 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Tanzania export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 Tanzania reported exports of 196,742 t (USD 268 m) and imports of 845 t (USD 222,000), 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; the 2024 figure for Tanzania is imputed by FAO. 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.