Honey production refers to the annual quantity of natural honey harvested from managed honeybee colonies through beekeeping activities.
Saudi Arabia Honey Production was 5.78 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, down 0.9% on 2023. Saudi Arabia’s honey production experienced significant growth between 2015 and 2024, reflecting the expansion of the country’s beekeeping sector, increasing investment in apiculture, and rising interest in natural honey production. Honey production started at approximately 118.52 tonnes in 2015 and gradually increased in the following years.
Saudi Arabia Honey Production moved from 0.119 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 5.78 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (+4776%), an average of +54% a year. The series high was 5.83 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 0.119 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 5.71 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +1473.6% in 2020.
Among the 27 countries in this dataset, Saudi Arabia ranks 22 for 2024, behind China (444.8 Thousand Tonnes) and India (146 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 0.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.78 | −0.9% |
| 2023Peak | 5.83 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 5.80 | +16% |
| 2021 | 5.00 | +131.4% |
| 2020 | 2.16 | +1,473.6% |
| 2019 | 0.137 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 0.136 | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 0.130 | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 0.124 | +4.9% |
| 2015 Trough | 0.119 | — |
Regional context
Honey Production by country, 2024, Thousand Tonnes. Saudi Arabia is highlighted.
Data definition
Honey Production — Honey production refers to the annual quantity of natural honey harvested from managed honeybee colonies through beekeeping activities. It represents the total output of honey collected by beekeepers during a specific period and is used as a macro indicator to assess the scale, productivity, and performance of the apiculture sector. The indicator measures honey production volumes across countries and regions, helping analyze long-term production trends, agricultural contributions, and developments within the global honey industry.
Honey production includes the total quantity of natural honey obtained from commercial, small-scale, and traditional beekeeping operations. It covers honey harvested from different floral sources and produced through managed honeybee colonies, including output intended for food consumption, industrial use, and commercial markets. The indicator accounts for annual production volumes reported in tonnes or thousand tonnes, reflecting the overall performance of the honey-producing sector within a country or region.
Honey production excludes processed or value-added honey products such as flavored honey, blended honey products, and honey-based food items, as the indicator measures only raw honey output. It does not include honey imports, exports, consumption, retail sales, or market value. Other beekeeping products such as beeswax, royal jelly, and propolis are excluded, along with artificial honey substitutes and production losses occurring during processing, storage, or transportation.
Honey Production — Honey production refers to the annual quantity of natural honey harvested from managed honeybee colonies through beekeeping activities. It represents the total output of honey collected by beekeepers during a specific period and is used as a macro indicator to assess the scale, productivity, and performance of the apiculture sector. The indicator measures honey production volumes across countries and regions, helping analyze long-term production trends, agricultural contributions, and developments within the global honey industry.
Output reached 124.38 tonnes in 2016 and 129.87 tonnes in 2017, indicating steady improvements in beekeeping activities and production capacity. The growth continued through 2018 and 2019, with production reaching 135.72 tonnes and 137.28 tonnes, respectively, supported by increased adoption of organized beekeeping practices.
From 2020 onwards, Saudi Arabia’s honey production recorded a remarkable expansion. Production increased sharply to approximately 2,160.3 tonnes in 2020, followed by further growth to 5,000 tonnes in 2021 and 5,800 tonnes in 2022. The sector maintained strong output levels in the following years, reaching 5,833 tonnes in 2023 and approximately 5,779 tonnes in 2024. This substantial rise highlights the rapid development of the country’s honey industry and the growing importance of apiculture within the agricultural sector.
Saudi Arabia’s honey industry benefits from diverse ecosystems, including mountainous regions with rich floral resources that support the production of specialty honey varieties. Beekeeping activities contribute to rural employment, biodiversity conservation, and agricultural productivity through pollination services. Government support, improved beekeeping techniques, and increased consumer demand for premium natural honey have also contributed to sector growth.
From a macro indicator perspective, Saudi Arabia’s honey production demonstrates a significant transformation from a small-scale industry into a rapidly expanding apiculture sector. The increase from 118.52 tonnes in 2015 to 5,779 tonnes in 2024 reflects substantial improvements in production capacity, hive management, and commercialization. Future growth opportunities will depend on sustainable beekeeping practices, protection of bee populations, technological advancement, and further development of domestic and international honey markets.
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Honey production refers to the annual quantity of natural honey harvested from managed honeybee colonies through beekeeping activities. It represents the total output of honey collected by beekeepers during a specific period and is used as a macro indicator to assess the scale, productivity, and performance of the apiculture sector. The indicator measures honey production volumes across countries and regions, helping analyze long-term production trends, agricultural contributions, and developments within the global honey industry.
Saudi Arabia Honey Production was 5.78 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, down 0.9% on 2023.
Saudi Arabia Honey Production moved from 0.119 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 5.78 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (+4776%), an average of +54% a year. The series high was 5.83 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 0.119 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The highest value was 5.83 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 0.119 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
Included: Honey production includes the total quantity of natural honey obtained from commercial, small-scale, and traditional beekeeping operations. It covers honey harvested from different floral sources and produced through managed honeybee colonies, including output intended for food consumption, industrial use, and commercial markets. The indicator accounts for annual production volumes reported in tonnes or thousand tonnes, reflecting the overall performance of the honey-producing sector within a country or region. Excluded: Honey production excludes processed or value-added honey products such as flavored honey, blended honey products, and honey-based food items, as the indicator measures only raw honey output. It does not include honey imports, exports, consumption, retail sales, or market value. Other beekeeping products such as beeswax, royal jelly, and propolis are excluded, along with artificial honey substitutes and production losses occurring during processing, storage, or transportation.
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?pickerSort=asc&pickerMetric=entityName&Food=Honey&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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