Global date production is projected to approach 9.3 million metric tons in the near term, while the trade picture moves differently across regions. Per capita consumption highlights the split, from Saudi Arabia at 34 kg per person annually to the US at 0.45 kg. The figures connect nutrition, cultivation, and market shifts into one view of where momentum is building and where it is stalling.
Key Takeaways
- Per capita date consumption globally is 1.1 kg annually
- World date palm cultivation spans 30 countries with 120 million trees
- Global date production value estimated at $12 billion in 2022
- Global date production in 2022 totaled 9,682,220 metric tons, with Egypt as the top producer at 1,728,270 metric tons
- Global date trade volume reached 1.2 million tons in 2022
Date industry statistics show growing demand and steady production gains worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption and Health Statistics19 stats
01
Per capita date consumption globally is 1.1 kg annually
02
Saudi Arabia has highest per capita consumption at 34 kg per person per year
03
US annual date consumption per capita is 0.45 kg
04
Dates provide 277 kcal per 100g, with 75g carbs and 2g fiber per serving
05
Dates contain 696 mg potassium per 100g, supporting heart health
06
One Medjool date has 18g sugar but low glycemic index of 42
07
Daily consumption of 7 dates improves bowel movements by 20%, study shows
08
Dates have 0.4 mg iron per 100g, aiding anemia prevention
09
EU per capita date consumption averaged 0.6 kg in 2022
10
India consumes 300,000 tons domestically annually
11
Dates antioxidants reduce inflammation markers by 15% in trials
12
100g dates provide 20% RDA of vitamin B6 for energy metabolism
13
Pregnant women eating 6 dates daily at term reduce labor duration by 4 hours
14
UAE per capita consumption is 25 kg/year
15
Dates fiber content aids 21% better cholesterol control
16
Global date consumption grew 3% annually 2015-2022
17
China consumption reached 150,000 tons in 2022, up 25%
18
Dates magnesium content 54 mg/100g supports bone health
19
Low calorie dates varieties like Barhi used in weight management diets
Interpretation
Consumption and Health Statistics Interpretation
Saudi Arabia puts the rest of the world’s date consumption to shame, proving that when you can power a labor ward, fuel an army, and steady a heart with a single fruit, you naturally make it a cornerstone of your diet.
02 · Category
Cultivation and Sustainability Statistics18 stats
01
World date palm cultivation spans 30 countries with 120 million trees
02
Egypt has 1.6 million hectares under date palms
03
Saudi Arabia cultivates dates on 160,000 ha with drip irrigation
04
Over 3,000 date palm varieties exist worldwide
05
Medjool variety covers 50,000 ha globally, mainly Israel and USA
06
Deglet Noor planted on 40% of California's 8,000 ha orchards
07
Date palms live 100+ years, producing for 60-80 years
08
Optimal date palm spacing is 8x8 meters for 156 trees/ha
09
Tissue culture propagates 90% disease-free date palms annually
10
Bayoud disease affects 50% of Moroccan date palms historically
11
Drip irrigation saves 50% water in UAE date farms
12
Red Palm Weevil infests 20 million trees yearly globally
13
Organic date farming covers 10% of total area in California
14
Climate change projected to reduce suitable date areas by 15% by 2050
15
Iran has 1 million ha of date orchards
16
Pollination requires 50-100 male palms per 100 ha female palms
17
Harvesting yields peak in 10-15 years for new plantations
18
Salinity tolerant varieties like Barhee thrive in 8 dS/m soil
Interpretation
Cultivation and Sustainability Statistics Interpretation
Date palms stand as ancient, low-maintenance aristocrats of agriculture, commanding vast, sun-drenched estates from Egypt to California, yet they are locked in a relentless generational war against everything from thirsty soils and contagious plagues to amorous weevils and a changing climate, all while humanity meticulously counts their spacing, their gender ratios, and their water bills.
03 · Category
Market and Economic Statistics20 stats
01
Global date production value estimated at $12 billion in 2022
02
The international date market size was valued at $14.5 billion in 2023
03
Date palm market projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR from 2024-2030
04
Middle East holds 70% share of global date market revenue in 2023
05
Organic dates segment expected to grow fastest at 6.8% CAGR to 2030
06
US date market revenue reached $250 million in 2022
07
Europe date imports valued at €450 million in 2022
08
Retail price of premium Medjool dates averaged $12/kg in US in 2023
09
Wholesale price for Deglet Noor dates was $3.50/kg in California 2023
10
Date processing industry in Saudi Arabia worth SAR 5 billion in 2022
11
Global date exports generated $2.1 billion in revenue in 2022
12
UAE date market size projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2028
13
India date market valued at INR 15,000 crore in 2023
14
Per capita date consumption in Saudi Arabia is 35 kg annually
15
Date syrup market to grow from $450 million in 2023 to $780 million by 2030
16
Number of date processing factories in Egypt exceeds 150 in 2023
17
Global date snacks market valued at $1.8 billion in 2023
18
Iran date export value hit $250 million in 2022/23
19
Date palm jaggery market in India growing at 7% annually
20
Saudi Arabia domestic date market consumption 1.5 million tons yearly
Interpretation
Market and Economic Statistics Interpretation
While clinging stubbornly to a massive 70% share of the $14.5 billion date market, the Middle East is watching the world's snackers and health buffs eagerly sweeten the pot, with organic dates and innovative products like syrup driving a steady global growth that even Saudi Arabia's legendary 35kg-per-person annual appetite can't entirely consume.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics29 stats
01
Global date production in 2022 totaled 9,682,220 metric tons, with Egypt as the top producer at 1,728,270 metric tons
02
Saudi Arabia produced 1,634,000 metric tons of dates in 2022, accounting for 16.9% of global output
03
Iran ranked third in date production with 1,028,530 metric tons in 2022
04
Algeria's date production was 1,217,400 metric tons in 2022
05
Iraq produced 711,540 metric tons of dates in 2022
06
Pakistan's date yield per hectare averaged 6.5 metric tons in 2022
07
United Arab Emirates date production reached 1,185,000 metric tons in 2022 from 42,000 hectares
08
Sudan's date output was 432,150 metric tons in 2022
09
Oman produced 385,000 metric tons of dates in 2022
10
Libya's production stood at 365,000 metric tons in 2022
11
Yemen harvested 340,000 metric tons of dates in 2022
12
Tunisia produced 300,000 metric tons in 2022 from 35,000 hectares
13
Morocco's date production was 200,000 metric tons in 2022
14
India's date output reached 150,000 metric tons in 2022, mainly from Rajasthan
15
China's production was 120,000 metric tons in 2022
16
Global date harvested area in 2022 was 1,246,000 hectares
17
Average global date yield was 7.77 tons per hectare in 2022
18
Egypt's date yield averaged 10.2 tons/ha in 2022
19
Saudi Arabia's yield was 12.5 tons/ha in 2022 from modern orchards
20
Iran's date production increased by 5% from 2021 to 2022
21
Global date production grew 2.1% annually from 2018-2022
22
California, USA produced 14,000 short tons of dates in 2022
23
Arizona's date production was 2,500 short tons in 2022
24
Mexico produced 60,000 metric tons of dates in 2022
25
Bahrain's output was 30,000 metric tons in 2022
26
Kuwait produced 45,000 metric tons in 2022
27
Qatar's date production reached 25,000 metric tons in 2022
28
Jordan harvested 15,000 metric tons in 2022
29
Syria's production was 220,000 metric tons pre-conflict but dropped to 100,000 in 2022
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
While Egypt narrowly holds the crown for overall production, the desert kingdoms and nations are locked in a surprisingly fruitful arms race, with Saudi efficiency and Iran’s growth quietly challenging for ultimate supremacy in the world's sweetest geopolitics.
05 · Category
Trade and Export Statistics20 stats
01
Global date trade volume reached 1.2 million tons in 2022
02
UAE exported 450,000 metric tons of dates in 2022 worth $800 million
03
Saudi Arabia date exports totaled 310,000 tons in 2022 to 90 countries
04
Israel exported $120 million worth of dates in 2022, mainly Medjool variety
05
Egypt's date exports reached 140,000 tons in 2023 season
06
Jordan date exports valued at $45 million in 2022
07
Top date importing country India imported 200,000 tons in 2022
08
US imported 45,000 metric tons of dates in 2022, 90% from Israel and Mexico
09
EU date imports from non-EU countries totaled 250,000 tons in 2022
10
Iran's date exports grew 20% to 120,000 tons in 2022/23
11
Tunisia exported 50,000 tons of Deglet Nour dates in 2022
12
Oman date exports reached 30,000 tons valued at OMR 25 million in 2022
13
Pakistan exported 25,000 tons of dates to 40 countries in 2022
14
Turkey imported 15,000 tons of dates in 2022 mainly from Iran
15
China date imports surged 30% to 80,000 tons in 2022
16
Malaysia imported 12,000 tons valued at MYR 50 million in 2022
17
Date export price from UAE averaged $2,500per ton FOB in 2023
18
Global date trade balance shows Middle East surplus of 800,000 tons annually
19
Algeria exported 100,000 tons of dates in 2022 to Europe and Asia
20
Iraq date exports limited to 20,000 tons due to challenges in 2022
Interpretation
Trade and Export Statistics Interpretation
While the UAE is busy turning desert sand into dates and dollars, the rest of the world is clearly sweet on the Middle East's ancient staple, proving that even in a globalized food market, the sun-kissed oases still hold the definitive sweet contract.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Dates Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dates-industry-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Dates Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/dates-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Dates Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dates-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
53 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level