Sesame seed, one of the oldest oilseed crops known to humanity, has been cultivated for over 3,000 years, with its origins traced to the Indian subcontinent and parts of Africa. Today, the top producers of sesame seed are Sudan, Myanmar, India, and Tanzania, with China and Nigeria also playing significant roles in global production. Historically, sesame spread from its centers of origin through ancient trade routes, becoming a staple in the Middle East, East Asia, and the Mediterranean. Its resilience to drought and ability to thrive in poor soils contributed to its widespread adoption. Over centuries, sesame farming evolved from small-scale, traditional methods to more commercialized operations, particularly in Asia and Africa, where it remains a vital crop for both domestic consumption and export markets.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sudan | 1,119,026 |
| 2 | India | 817,000 |
| 3 | Tanzania | 700,000 |
| 4 | Myanmar | 641,730 |
| 5 | China | 457,332 |
| 6 | Nigeria | 440,000 |
| 7 | Burkina Faso | 270,000 |
| 8 | Chad | 196,904 |
| 9 | Ethiopia | 190,000 |
| 10 | South Sudan | 182,153 |
| 11 | Uganda | 146,000 |
| 12 | Pakistan | 127,974 |
| 13 | Mozambique | 125,000 |
| 14 | Niger | 85,062 |
| 15 | Cameroon | 70,000 |
| 16 | Brazil | 62,000 |
| 17 | Mexico | 53,019 |
| 18 | Central African Republic | 45,694 |
| 19 | Mali | 42,827 |
| 20 | Afghanistan | 39,938 |
| 21 | Senegal | 37,586 |
| 22 | Egypt | 37,000 |
| 23 | Paraguay | 35,877 |
| 24 | Somalia | 33,976 |
| 25 | Bangladesh | 32,434 |
| 26 | Thailand | 31,000 |
| 27.5 | Guatemala | 30,000 |
| 27.5 | Cambodia | 30,000 |
| 29 | Iran | 29,000 |
| 30 | Vietnam | 28,775 |
| 31 | Venezuela | 23,382 |
| 32 | Yemen | 20,928 |
| 33 | Turkey | 17,657 |
| 34 | Uzbekistan | 15,697 |
| 35 | Laos | 14,794 |
| 36 | Bolivia | 14,046 |
| 37 | Sri Lanka | 11,999 |
| 38 | Syria | 11,591 |
| 39 | Kenya | 11,568 |
| 40 | South Korea | 10,090 |
| 41 | Benin | 10,000 |
| 42 | Eritrea | 5,040 |
| 43 | Congo | 4,583 |
| 44 | Nicaragua | 4,536 |
| 45 | Haiti | 4,142 |
| 46 | Saudi Arabia | 4,088 |
| 47 | Sierra Leone | 3,464 |
| 48 | Colombia | 3,360 |
| 49 | Guinea | 3,302 |
| 50 | Angola | 3,289 |
| 51 | Malawi | 3,282 |
| 52 | Cote d Ivoire | 3,018 |
| 53 | Gambia | 2,713 |
| 54 | Iraq | 2,134 |
| 55 | El Salvador | 2,000 |
| 56 | China Taiwan | 1,932 |
| 57 | Togo | 1,814 |
| 58 | Honduras | 1,229 |
| 59 | Tajikistan | 1,131 |
Data from United Nations FAO Stat