Sesame seed production in Yemen
In 2024 Yemen produced 20,500 t of sesame seed, the 28th largest in the world (0.31% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 17%. The record was 25,495 t in 2010. Area harvested: 20,499 ha, yield 1.0 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 20,500 t
- World rank
- 28 of 69
- 10-year change
- −17%
- Record
- 25,495 t
- 2010
Sesame seed in Yemen, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Yemen compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.31%
- 0.40% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.0
- world 0.6 (+75%)
- kg per person
- 0.51
- world 0.82
- 10-year change
- −17%
- world +8.4%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Iran | 29,000 | 0.43% |
| 27 | Afghanistan | 28,799 | 0.43% |
| 28 | Yemen | 20,500 | 0.31% |
| 29 | Venezuela | 20,362 | 0.30% |
| 30 | Vietnam | 19,576 | 0.29% |
Map of world production of sesame seed
Share of the world total; Yemen is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20,500 | +0.0% | 20,499 | 1.00 |
| 2023 | 20,490 | +0.4% | 20,494 | 1.00 |
| 2022 | 20,403 | +4.2% | 20,822 | 0.98 |
| 2021 | 19,583 | −10% | 21,195 | 0.92 |
| 2020 | 21,820 | +0.8% | 20,809 | 1.05 |
| 2019 | 21,639 | +10.0% | 20,621 | 1.05 |
| 2018 | 19,676 | −13% | 23,632 | 0.83 |
| 2017 | 22,543 | −0.4% | 21,428 | 1.05 |
| 2016 | 22,635 | −0.6% | 21,536 | 1.05 |
| 2015 | 22,783 | −7.7% | 21,664 | 1.05 |
| 2014 | 24,674 | −1.9% | 22,804 | 1.08 |
| 2013 | 25,144 | +0.7% | 23,193 | 1.08 |
| 2012 | 24,961 | +8.3% | 23,048 | 1.08 |
| 2011 | 23,041 | −9.6% | 22,716 | 1.01 |
| 2010 | 25,495 | +5.0% | 23,190 | 1.10 |
| 2009 | 24,285 | +1.6% | 22,613 | 1.07 |
| 2008 | 23,895 | +2.9% | 22,212 | 1.08 |
| 2007 | 23,212 | +5.5% | 21,776 | 1.07 |
| 2006 | 21,992 | +14% | 21,001 | 1.05 |
| 2005 | 19,363 | +0.9% | 18,794 | 1.03 |
| 2004 | 19,181 | +2.4% | 18,050 | 1.06 |
| 2003 | 18,729 | +1.4% | 32,515 | 0.58 |
| 2002 | 18,463 | −4.7% | 32,420 | 0.57 |
| 2001 | 19,377 | +5.8% | 33,133 | 0.58 |
| 2000 | 18,314 | +3.1% | 32,008 | 0.57 |
| 1999 | 17,771 | +1.7% | 30,975 | 0.57 |
| 1998 | 17,472 | +6.3% | 30,331 | 0.58 |
| 1997 | 16,434 | +9.2% | 29,493 | 0.56 |
| 1996 | 15,053 | +7.2% | 25,914 | 0.58 |
| 1995 | 14,037 | +16% | 23,104 | 0.61 |
| 1994 | 12,118 | +6.8% | 20,409 | 0.59 |
| 1993 | 11,344 | +5.4% | 19,495 | 0.58 |
| 1992 | 10,762 | +34% | 18,683 | 0.58 |
| 1991 | 8,027 | −15% | 16,794 | 0.48 |
| 1990 | 9,432 | +16% | 18,578 | 0.51 |
| 1989 | 8,136 | +39% | 21,943 | 0.37 |
| 1988 | 5,873 | +18% | 15,555 | 0.38 |
| 1987 | 4,958 | −2.0% | 15,740 | 0.31 |
| 1986 | 5,061 | −28% | 12,352 | 0.41 |
| 1985 | 7,000 | +11% | 13,000 | 0.54 |
| 1984 | 6,330 | −13% | 15,005 | 0.42 |
| 1983 | 7,250 | −13% | 15,106 | 0.48 |
| 1982 | 8,301 | +1.2% | 15,106 | 0.55 |
| 1981 | 8,201 | −6.8% | 14,905 | 0.55 |
| 1980 | 8,800 | −5.4% | 14,000 | 0.63 |
| 1979 | 9,300 | 0.0% | 16,200 | 0.57 |
| 1978 | 9,300 | −15% | 15,200 | 0.61 |
| 1977 | 10,900 | +18% | 15,000 | 0.73 |
| 1976 | 9,259 | +6.9% | 13,868 | 0.67 |
| 1975 | 8,658 | +19% | 13,128 | 0.66 |
| 1974 | 7,256 | −4.0% | 11,628 | 0.62 |
| 1973 | 7,556 | −5.0% | 12,128 | 0.62 |
| 1972 | 7,955 | +6.7% | 12,128 | 0.66 |
| 1971 | 7,455 | +37% | 12,047 | 0.62 |
| 1970 | 5,455 | −25% | 8,047 | 0.68 |
| 1969 | 7,255 | 0.0% | 11,647 | 0.62 |
| 1968 | 7,255 | +1.4% | 11,506 | 0.63 |
| 1967 | 7,155 | +8.4% | 11,406 | 0.63 |
| 1966 | 6,600 | +6.5% | 11,366 | 0.58 |
| 1965 | 6,200 | 0.0% | 10,842 | 0.57 |
| 1964 | 6,200 | +8.8% | 10,842 | 0.57 |
| 1963 | 5,700 | −6.6% | 10,237 | 0.56 |
| 1962 | 6,100 | +7.0% | 10,642 | 0.57 |
| 1961 | 5,700 | — | 10,642 | 0.54 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 2,744 t USD 567,000
- Exporter rank
- 35 of 124
- Imports
- 1,213 t USD 2.3 m
- Importer rank
- 66 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 Yemen?
Yemen produced 20,500 t in 2024, 0.31% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Yemen rank in the world for production of sesame seed?
Yemen ranked 28th 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 Yemen changed?
It fell by 17% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +8.4% for the world. The record was 25,495 t in 2010.
What is the yield of sesame seed in Yemen?
1.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (20,500 t from 20,499 ha), against a world average of 0.6 t/ha.
Does Yemen export or import sesame seed?
In 2024 Yemen reported exports of 2,744 t (USD 567,000) and imports of 1,213 t (USD 2.3 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 Yemen 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.