Sunflower seed production in Bulgaria
In 2024 Bulgaria produced 1.6 million t of sunflower seed, the 8th largest in the world (3.15% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 18%. The record was 2.1 million t in 2022. Area harvested: 929,150 ha, yield 1.8 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 1.6 million t
- World rank
- 8 of 74
- 10-year change
- −18%
- Record
- 2.1 million t
- 2022
Sunflower seed in Bulgaria, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Bulgaria compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 3.1%
- 4.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.8
- world 1.8 (−2.6%)
- kg per person
- 243
- world 6.40
- 10-year change
- −18%
- world +28%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Kazakhstan | 1,834,397 | 3.5% |
| 7 | Hungary | 1,798,950 | 3.4% |
| 8 | Bulgaria | 1,644,740 | 3.1% |
| 9 | Romania | 1,508,000 | 2.9% |
| 10 | France | 1,479,770 | 2.8% |
Map of world production of sunflower seed
Share of the world total; Bulgaria is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,644,740 | −7.8% | 929,150 | 1.77 |
| 2023 | 1,783,990 | −17% | 869,910 | 2.05 |
| 2022 | 2,140,590 | +6.9% | 916,960 | 2.33 |
| 2021 | 2,002,180 | +15% | 836,470 | 2.39 |
| 2020 | 1,733,530 | −11% | 821,920 | 2.11 |
| 2019 | 1,937,210 | −0.3% | 815,560 | 2.38 |
| 2018 | 1,943,980 | −5.5% | 788,660 | 2.46 |
| 2017 | 2,056,987 | +9.8% | 898,844 | 2.29 |
| 2016 | 1,873,677 | +10% | 817,511 | 2.29 |
| 2015 | 1,699,228 | −15% | 810,841 | 2.10 |
| 2014 | 2,010,668 | +1.8% | 843,644 | 2.38 |
| 2013 | 1,974,425 | +42% | 878,637 | 2.25 |
| 2012 | 1,387,780 | −3.6% | 780,755 | 1.78 |
| 2011 | 1,439,702 | −6.3% | 747,131 | 1.93 |
| 2010 | 1,536,321 | +17% | 729,889 | 2.10 |
| 2009 | 1,317,979 | +1.3% | 683,711 | 1.93 |
| 2008 | 1,300,711 | +130% | 721,689 | 1.80 |
| 2007 | 564,447 | −53% | 602,398 | 0.94 |
| 2006 | 1,196,570 | +28% | 750,521 | 1.59 |
| 2005 | 934,855 | −13% | 635,003 | 1.47 |
| 2004 | 1,078,832 | +37% | 592,765 | 1.82 |
| 2003 | 788,763 | +22% | 659,632 | 1.20 |
| 2002 | 645,369 | +59% | 471,013 | 1.37 |
| 2001 | 405,087 | −4.8% | 389,742 | 1.04 |
| 2000 | 425,369 | −30% | 511,015 | 0.83 |
| 1999 | 605,832 | +16% | 592,165 | 1.02 |
| 1998 | 524,238 | +20% | 538,777 | 0.97 |
| 1997 | 438,346 | −17% | 452,863 | 0.97 |
| 1996 | 526,492 | −31% | 499,842 | 1.05 |
| 1995 | 766,879 | +27% | 586,009 | 1.31 |
| 1994 | 601,571 | +39% | 495,937 | 1.21 |
| 1993 | 432,119 | −27% | 469,445 | 0.92 |
| 1992 | 594,725 | +37% | 475,669 | 1.25 |
| 1991 | 434,429 | +12% | 269,742 | 1.61 |
| 1990 | 388,560 | −15% | 280,203 | 1.39 |
| 1989 | 458,386 | +22% | 239,801 | 1.91 |
| 1988 | 374,328 | −8.8% | 238,128 | 1.57 |
| 1987 | 410,288 | −16% | 266,359 | 1.54 |
| 1986 | 488,692 | +34% | 255,120 | 1.92 |
| 1985 | 364,691 | −21% | 267,213 | 1.36 |
| 1984 | 461,592 | +1.6% | 253,216 | 1.82 |
| 1983 | 454,158 | −11% | 261,919 | 1.73 |
| 1982 | 510,868 | +12% | 253,007 | 2.02 |
| 1981 | 457,197 | +20% | 260,203 | 1.76 |
| 1980 | 379,950 | −11% | 247,480 | 1.54 |
| 1979 | 426,257 | +16% | 229,862 | 1.85 |
| 1978 | 368,929 | −13% | 226,522 | 1.63 |
| 1977 | 422,710 | +17% | 236,968 | 1.78 |
| 1976 | 361,655 | −15% | 226,087 | 1.60 |
| 1975 | 426,262 | +16% | 237,989 | 1.79 |
| 1974 | 368,052 | −18% | 262,184 | 1.40 |
| 1973 | 447,756 | −9.4% | 252,331 | 1.77 |
| 1972 | 494,079 | +7.0% | 273,732 | 1.80 |
| 1971 | 461,710 | +13% | 266,710 | 1.73 |
| 1970 | 406,887 | −25% | 278,349 | 1.46 |
| 1969 | 543,000 | +18% | 287,000 | 1.89 |
| 1968 | 459,000 | −4.0% | 280,000 | 1.64 |
| 1967 | 478,000 | +13% | 268,000 | 1.78 |
| 1966 | 423,000 | +18% | 255,000 | 1.66 |
| 1965 | 357,000 | +5.9% | 267,000 | 1.34 |
| 1964 | 337,000 | +0.3% | 239,000 | 1.41 |
| 1963 | 336,000 | −5.9% | 255,000 | 1.32 |
| 1962 | 357,000 | +19% | 272,000 | 1.31 |
| 1961 | 301,000 | — | 232,000 | 1.30 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 576,136 t USD 508 m
- Exporter rank
- 2 of 95
- Imports
- 732,390 t USD 450 m
- Importer rank
- 1 of 152
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 sunflower seed in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria produced 1.6 million t in 2024, 3.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Bulgaria rank in the world for production of sunflower seed?
Bulgaria ranked 8th of 74 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Russia with 32.9% of the world total.
How has the production of sunflower seed in Bulgaria changed?
It fell by 18% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +28% for the world. The record was 2.1 million t in 2022.
What is the yield of sunflower seed in Bulgaria?
1.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (1.6 million t from 929,150 ha), against a world average of 1.8 t/ha.
Does Bulgaria export or import sunflower seed?
In 2024 Bulgaria reported exports of 576,136 t (USD 508 m) and imports of 732,390 t (USD 450 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. 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.