Watermelons production in Saudi Arabia
In 2024 Saudi Arabia produced 608,478 t of watermelons, the 23rd largest in the world (0.58% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 23%. The record was 1.2 million t in 1971. Area harvested: 23,648 ha, yield 25.7 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 608,478 t
- World rank
- 23 of 124
- 10-year change
- +23%
- Record
- 1.2 million t
- 1971
Watermelons in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Saudi Arabia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.58%
- 0.50% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 25.7
- world 34.4 (−25%)
- kg per person
- 17.9
- world 12.9
- 10-year change
- +23%
- world +5.6%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Turkmenistan | 650,528 | 0.62% |
| 22 | Niger | 646,397 | 0.62% |
| 23 | Saudi Arabia | 608,478 | 0.58% |
| 24 | Greece | 509,180 | 0.49% |
| 25 | Tunisia | 504,092 | 0.48% |
Map of world production of watermelons
Share of the world total; Saudi Arabia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 608,478 | −0.8% | 23,648 | 25.73 |
| 2023 | 613,632 | +1.4% | 23,656 | 25.94 |
| 2022 | 605,000 | −3.1% | 24,113 | 25.09 |
| 2021 | 624,110 | +20% | 23,921 | 26.09 |
| 2020 | 522,226 | −24% | 23,452 | 22.27 |
| 2019 | 687,718 | +8.4% | 30,981 | 22.20 |
| 2018 | 634,491 | +4.7% | 30,981 | 20.48 |
| 2017 | 606,186 | +5.5% | 29,699 | 20.41 |
| 2016 | 574,653 | +14% | 27,874 | 20.62 |
| 2015 | 505,722 | +2.2% | 26,162 | 19.33 |
| 2014 | 494,612 | +23% | 24,558 | 20.14 |
| 2013 | 401,058 | +7.2% | 18,623 | 21.54 |
| 2012 | 374,203 | +2.3% | 18,151 | 20.62 |
| 2011 | 365,903 | +8.0% | 17,911 | 20.43 |
| 2010 | 338,881 | +0.2% | 17,531 | 19.33 |
| 2009 | 338,074 | −7.1% | 16,783 | 20.14 |
| 2008 | 363,893 | −7.5% | 17,618 | 20.65 |
| 2007 | 393,234 | +2.3% | 19,455 | 20.21 |
| 2006 | 384,445 | +5.5% | 18,522 | 20.76 |
| 2005 | 364,437 | +10% | 18,148 | 20.08 |
| 2004 | 331,245 | +17% | 17,187 | 19.27 |
| 2003 | 283,378 | +4.0% | 16,415 | 17.26 |
| 2002 | 272,359 | +8.5% | 15,904 | 17.13 |
| 2001 | 251,050 | −8.8% | 15,409 | 16.29 |
| 2000 | 275,213 | +5.0% | 14,425 | 19.08 |
| 1999 | 262,000 | −43% | 14,044 | 18.66 |
| 1998 | 460,320 | −0.9% | 26,522 | 17.36 |
| 1997 | 464,400 | +1.1% | 27,511 | 16.88 |
| 1996 | 459,228 | +1.9% | 25,676 | 17.89 |
| 1995 | 450,489 | +12% | 25,267 | 17.83 |
| 1994 | 402,623 | +0.8% | 22,582 | 17.83 |
| 1993 | 399,502 | −2.3% | 21,637 | 18.46 |
| 1992 | 409,093 | +7.7% | 21,381 | 19.13 |
| 1991 | 379,890 | −3.2% | 20,764 | 18.30 |
| 1990 | 392,399 | +1.6% | 21,970 | 17.86 |
| 1989 | 386,076 | −9.9% | 22,368 | 17.26 |
| 1988 | 428,269 | +1.9% | 18,713 | 22.89 |
| 1987 | 420,149 | +12% | 16,750 | 25.08 |
| 1986 | 374,246 | +2.2% | 18,600 | 20.12 |
| 1985 | 366,104 | +10% | 17,984 | 20.36 |
| 1984 | 332,620 | −26% | 16,223 | 20.50 |
| 1983 | 446,742 | −2.1% | 21,132 | 21.14 |
| 1982 | 456,512 | +136% | 28,174 | 16.20 |
| 1981 | 193,352 | −42% | 13,039 | 14.83 |
| 1980 | 332,063 | +54% | 16,487 | 20.14 |
| 1979 | 215,707 | +54% | 12,053 | 17.90 |
| 1978 | 140,091 | −50% | 10,494 | 13.35 |
| 1977 | 282,631 | +14% | 14,401 | 19.63 |
| 1976 | 248,430 | −8.5% | 12,460 | 19.94 |
| 1975 | 271,417 | +125% | 12,998 | 20.88 |
| 1974 | 120,488 | +89% | 10,077 | 11.96 |
| 1973 | 63,716 | −86% | 2,325 | 27.40 |
| 1972 | 448,936 | −64% | 11,248 | 39.91 |
| 1971 | 1,248,740 | +657% | 25,050 | 49.85 |
| 1970 | 165,000 | +27% | 10,000 | 16.50 |
| 1969 | 130,000 | 0.0% | 8,000 | 16.25 |
| 1968 | 130,000 | +4.0% | 8,000 | 16.25 |
| 1967 | 125,000 | 0.0% | 8,000 | 15.63 |
| 1966 | 125,000 | +4.2% | 8,000 | 15.63 |
| 1965 | 120,000 | 0.0% | 8,000 | 15.00 |
| 1964 | 120,000 | +4.3% | 8,000 | 15.00 |
| 1963 | 115,000 | 0.0% | 8,000 | 14.38 |
| 1962 | 115,000 | 0.0% | 8,000 | 14.38 |
| 1961 | 115,000 | — | 8,000 | 14.38 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 4,481 t USD 1.3 m
- Exporter rank
- 47 of 113
- Imports
- 15,231 t USD 8.2 m
- Importer rank
- 44 of 144
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 watermelons in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia produced 608,478 t in 2024, 0.58% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Saudi Arabia rank in the world for production of watermelons?
Saudi Arabia ranked 23rd of 124 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 60.5% of the world total.
How has the production of watermelons in Saudi Arabia changed?
It rose by 23% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +5.6% for the world. The record was 1.2 million t in 1971.
What is the yield of watermelons in Saudi Arabia?
25.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (608,478 t from 23,648 ha), against a world average of 34.4 t/ha.
Does Saudi Arabia export or import watermelons?
In 2024 Saudi Arabia reported exports of 4,481 t (USD 1.3 m) and imports of 15,231 t (USD 8.2 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 Saudi Arabia 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.