What is the difference in arable and permanent cropland between Ethiopia and Nigeria?

23.52 million hectares, with Nigeria ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and Nigeria?

51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.

Where does this data come from?

Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Arable and permanent cropland (hectares). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Ethiopia vs Nigeria: Arable and permanent cropland

Ethiopia

15.68 million hectares

in 2011

Nigeria

39.20 million hectares

in 2011

Ethiopia rank

3rd

Nigeria rank

1st

Arable and permanent cropland over time

Ethiopia
Nigeria

How they compare

Nigeria currently reports 39.20 million hectares against 15.68 million hectares in Ethiopia, a difference of 23.52 million hectares.

That makes Nigeria's figure about 2.5 times Ethiopia's.

Across all 51 years both countries report, Nigeria has been ahead every year.

Ethiopia ranks 3rd and Nigeria ranks 1st of 52 countries.

Nigeria has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Ethiopia	Nigeria	Difference	Ahead
1960s	12.43 million hectares	29.19 million hectares	16.76 million hectares	Nigeria
1970s	13.68 million hectares	30.04 million hectares	16.36 million hectares	Nigeria
1980s	12.65 million hectares	31.04 million hectares	18.39 million hectares	Nigeria
1990s	10.77 million hectares	32.22 million hectares	21.45 million hectares	Nigeria
2000s	12.62 million hectares	36.67 million hectares	24.06 million hectares	Nigeria
2010s	15.33 million hectares	39.20 million hectares	23.87 million hectares	Nigeria

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher arable and permanent cropland, Ethiopia or Nigeria?: Nigeria, at 39.20 million hectares against 15.68 million hectares in Ethiopia as of 2011.
What is the difference in arable and permanent cropland between Ethiopia and Nigeria?: 23.52 million hectares, with Nigeria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and Nigeria?: 51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.
How do Ethiopia and Nigeria rank globally for arable and permanent cropland?: Ethiopia ranks 3rd and Nigeria ranks 1st of 52 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Arable and permanent cropland (hectares). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ethiopia vs Nigeria: Arable and permanent cropland. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/compare/arable-and-permanent-cropland-hectares/ethiopia/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator: Arable and permanent cropland (hectares)
Unit: hectares
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 58 places, 2,926 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed: 21 August 2026

This land category is the sum of areas under “Arable land” and "Permanent crops”. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under