– Dates Production refers to the total quantity of dates harvested and produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes.
Saudi Arabia Dates Production was 1,928 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, up 1.3% on 2023. The Saudi Arabia Dates Production dataset provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's date cultivation performance and agricultural output trends between 2015 and 2024. Measured in Million Tonnes, the dataset serves as an important benchmark for evaluating date farming capacity, orchard productivity, agricultural development, and the expansion of one of the world's leading date-producing industries.
Saudi Arabia Dates Production moved from 1,039 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 1,928 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (+85.6%), an average of +7.1% a year. The series high was 1,928 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 and the low 1,039 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2024) and low (2015) is 889 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +18.2% in 2019.
Among the 17 countries in this dataset, Saudi Arabia ranks 1 for 2024. It accounts for 19.4% of the global total in 2024.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024Peak | 1,928 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 1,903 | +18.2% |
| 2022 | 1,611 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 1,566 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 1,542 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 1,540 | +18.2% |
| 2018 | 1,303 | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 1,224 | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 1,153 | +11% |
| 2015 Trough | 1,039 | — |
Regional context
Dates Production by country, 2024, Thousand Tonnes. Saudi Arabia is highlighted.
Data definition
Dates Production — – Dates Production refers to the total quantity of dates harvested and produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of date palm cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of date farming to the agricultural and horticultural sectors. It is used to assess domestic production capacity, food supply, and the availability of dates for consumption, processing, and export. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The data includes the annual production of dates harvested from date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera) and recorded as primary agricultural output. It covers dates produced for fresh consumption, drying, food processing, confectionery, syrup production, and export markets. The figures represent harvested production quantities collected from official agricultural statistics and standardized by the FAO to enable international comparison across countries and years.
The data excludes processed date products such as date syrup, date paste, date sugar, and other value-added products. It also excludes date imports and exports, cultivation area, yield per hectare, post-harvest losses, inventory changes, and informal or unrecorded production not captured in official agricultural statistics. Other fruit crops such as figs, raisins, prunes, and dried fruits are not included in this indicator.
Dates Production — – Dates Production refers to the total quantity of dates harvested and produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of date palm cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of date farming to the agricultural and horticultural sectors. It is used to assess domestic production capacity, food supply, and the availability of dates for consumption, processing, and export. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Based on the validated data, Saudi Arabia's dates production recorded strong and consistent growth throughout the study period. Production increased from 1.04 million tonnes in 2015 to 1.15 million tonnes in 2016, 1.22 million tonnes in 2017, and 1.30 million tonnes in 2018. Output expanded significantly to 1.54 million tonnes in 2019 and remained at the same level in 2020, before increasing steadily to 1.57 million tonnes in 2021, 1.61 million tonnes in 2022, 1.90 million tonnes in 2023, and 1.93 million tonnes in 2024, the highest production level recorded during the study period. The sustained upward trend highlights continued investment in modern cultivation techniques, improved orchard management, and strong government support for the country's date industry.
The dataset provides valuable insights into Saudi Arabia's dates production trends, agricultural productivity, and horticultural supply chain development. It supports historical trend analysis, production benchmarking, market assessment, and forecasting of future date availability. Farmers, producers, exporters, policymakers, investors, researchers, and industry stakeholders can use the dataset to evaluate production performance, compare annual output, identify investment opportunities, optimize cultivation planning, and strengthen domestic and export supply chains. The data is also valuable for assessing Saudi Arabia's leadership in global date production, supporting agricultural innovation, improving production efficiency, enhancing export competitiveness, and promoting sustainable development across the horticulture and food processing sectors.
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Definition – Dates Production refers to the total quantity of dates harvested and produced within a country during a specified period, measured in tonnes. The indicator reflects the scale of date palm cultivation, agricultural productivity, and the contribution of date farming to the agricultural and horticultural sectors. It is used to assess domestic production capacity, food supply, and the availability of dates for consumption, processing, and export. The data presented by Our World in Data is based on statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Saudi Arabia Dates Production was 1,928 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, up 1.3% on 2023.
Saudi Arabia Dates Production moved from 1,039 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 1,928 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (+85.6%), an average of +7.1% a year. The series high was 1,928 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 and the low 1,039 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The highest value was 1,928 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 and the lowest was 1,039 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
Included: The data includes the annual production of dates harvested from date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera) and recorded as primary agricultural output. It covers dates produced for fresh consumption, drying, food processing, confectionery, syrup production, and export markets. The figures represent harvested production quantities collected from official agricultural statistics and standardized by the FAO to enable international comparison across countries and years. Excluded: The data excludes processed date products such as date syrup, date paste, date sugar, and other value-added products. It also excludes date imports and exports, cultivation area, yield per hectare, post-harvest losses, inventory changes, and informal or unrecorded production not captured in official agricultural statistics. Other fruit crops such as figs, raisins, prunes, and dried fruits are not included in this indicator.
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?time=2023&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls&Food=Dates&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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