Turkey is the biggest apricot producer in the world with 538, 000 t production per annum and 20.15% market share. Moreover, 83% of the dried apricots in world markets are produced in Turkey. In this research; the energy budget of traditionally applied apricot agriculture - one of the means of subsistence in Malatya region of Turkey - is evaluated. Total yield, apricot mass/pit mass ratio and apricot fruit yield with respect to dried substance are found to be 20, 14/1 and 4.82 t/ha, respectively. Total energy input, total energy output, output/input ratio and net energy ratio are found to be 22341, 75265 MJ/ha, 3.37 and 2.37, respectively. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.