Sunflower seed production in United States
In 2024 United States produced 519,640 t of sunflower seed, the 16th largest in the world (1.00% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 48%. The record was 3.3 million t in 1979. Area harvested: 277,660 ha, yield 1.9 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 519,640 t
- World rank
- 16 of 74
- 10-year change
- −48%
- Record
- 3.3 million t
- 1979
Sunflower seed in United States, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
United States compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.00%
- 2.5% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.9
- world 1.8 (+3.0%)
- kg per person
- 1.50
- world 6.40
- 10-year change
- −48%
- world +28%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Serbia | 622,512 | 1.2% |
| 15 | Moldova | 618,984 | 1.2% |
| 16 | United States | 519,640 | 1.00% |
| 17 | Italy | 287,680 | 0.55% |
| 18 | Uganda | 285,000 | 0.55% |
Map of world production of sunflower seed
Share of the world total; United States is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 519,640 | −49% | 277,660 | 1.87 |
| 2023 | 1,024,070 | −20% | 511,330 | 2.00 |
| 2022 | 1,273,940 | +48% | 647,300 | 1.97 |
| 2021 | 861,550 | −36% | 502,540 | 1.71 |
| 2020 | 1,353,020 | +52% | 674,090 | 2.01 |
| 2019 | 887,240 | −7.2% | 507,280 | 1.75 |
| 2018 | 955,740 | −1.4% | 492,670 | 1.94 |
| 2017 | 969,670 | −19% | 539,780 | 1.80 |
| 2016 | 1,202,760 | −9.3% | 619,990 | 1.94 |
| 2015 | 1,326,180 | +32% | 728,200 | 1.82 |
| 2014 | 1,006,540 | +9.8% | 611,120 | 1.65 |
| 2013 | 917,060 | −26% | 592,710 | 1.55 |
| 2012 | 1,241,060 | +34% | 744,630 | 1.67 |
| 2011 | 924,550 | −25% | 589,960 | 1.57 |
| 2010 | 1,240,830 | −9.9% | 758,310 | 1.64 |
| 2009 | 1,377,320 | −11% | 790,560 | 1.74 |
| 2008 | 1,552,570 | +19% | 969,640 | 1.60 |
| 2007 | 1,301,298 | +34% | 814,236 | 1.60 |
| 2006 | 972,330 | −47% | 716,300 | 1.36 |
| 2005 | 1,822,151 | +96% | 1,056,240 | 1.73 |
| 2004 | 929,690 | −23% | 692,425 | 1.34 |
| 2003 | 1,208,930 | +8.7% | 889,104 | 1.36 |
| 2002 | 1,111,867 | −28% | 876,963 | 1.27 |
| 2001 | 1,550,720 | −3.5% | 1,033,980 | 1.50 |
| 2000 | 1,607,730 | −18% | 1,071,210 | 1.50 |
| 1999 | 1,969,440 | −18% | 1,392,540 | 1.41 |
| 1998 | 2,392,000 | +43% | 1,413,200 | 1.69 |
| 1997 | 1,667,800 | +3.3% | 1,129,900 | 1.48 |
| 1996 | 1,614,500 | −11% | 1,003,230 | 1.61 |
| 1995 | 1,818,600 | −17% | 1,363,000 | 1.33 |
| 1994 | 2,193,490 | +88% | 1,388,090 | 1.58 |
| 1993 | 1,166,670 | +0.3% | 1,006,060 | 1.16 |
| 1992 | 1,163,460 | −29% | 826,780 | 1.41 |
| 1991 | 1,638,840 | +59% | 1,081,740 | 1.52 |
| 1990 | 1,032,000 | +29% | 749,000 | 1.38 |
| 1989 | 798,000 | −1.8% | 722,800 | 1.10 |
| 1988 | 813,000 | −31% | 777,400 | 1.05 |
| 1987 | 1,183,000 | −2.6% | 718,000 | 1.65 |
| 1986 | 1,214,000 | −15% | 791,000 | 1.53 |
| 1985 | 1,430,000 | −16% | 1,151,000 | 1.24 |
| 1984 | 1,698,500 | +17% | 1,494,100 | 1.14 |
| 1983 | 1,451,000 | −40% | 1,239,500 | 1.17 |
| 1982 | 2,419,000 | +19% | 1,911,700 | 1.27 |
| 1981 | 2,035,400 | +20% | 1,542,200 | 1.32 |
| 1980 | 1,697,000 | −49% | 1,490,400 | 1.14 |
| 1979 | 3,310,000 | +82% | 2,189,300 | 1.51 |
| 1978 | 1,823,000 | +37% | 1,132,300 | 1.61 |
| 1977 | 1,330,000 | +187% | 891,300 | 1.49 |
| 1976 | 463,000 | −15% | 425,000 | 1.09 |
| 1975 | 544,000 | +88% | 481,000 | 1.13 |
| 1974 | 290,000 | −18% | 262,843 | 1.10 |
| 1973 | 353,158 | +5.9% | 304,120 | 1.16 |
| 1972 | 333,600 | +70% | 328,680 | 1.01 |
| 1971 | 195,847 | +128% | 166,570 | 1.18 |
| 1970 | 85,785 | +6.6% | 84,820 | 1.01 |
| 1969 | 80,505 | −3.7% | 77,470 | 1.04 |
| 1968 | 83,570 | −20% | 73,650 | 1.13 |
| 1967 | 104,080 | +223% | 89,640 | 1.16 |
| 1966 | 32,250 | +58% | 31,970 | 1.01 |
| 1965 | 20,435 | +31% | 21,450 | 0.95 |
| 1964 | 15,640 | −46% | 18,980 | 0.82 |
| 1963 | 29,190 | +78% | 26,304 | 1.11 |
| 1962 | 16,375 | −3.7% | 15,378 | 1.06 |
| 1961 | 17,000 | — | 17,000 | 1.00 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 39,044 t USD 153 m
- Exporter rank
- 18 of 95
- Imports
- 115,292 t USD 121 m
- Importer rank
- 16 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 United States?
United States produced 519,640 t in 2024, 1.00% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does United States rank in the world for production of sunflower seed?
United States ranked 16th 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 United States changed?
It fell by 48% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +28% for the world. The record was 3.3 million t in 1979.
What is the yield of sunflower seed in United States?
1.9 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (519,640 t from 277,660 ha), against a world average of 1.8 t/ha.
Does United States export or import sunflower seed?
In 2024 United States reported exports of 39,044 t (USD 153 m) and imports of 115,292 t (USD 121 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.