Ethiopia vs South Africa: Arable and permanent cropland

Ethiopia
15.68 million hectares
in 2011
South Africa
12.45 million hectares
in 2011
Ethiopia rank
3rd
South Africa rank
6th

Arable and permanent cropland over time

  • Ethiopia
  • South Africa
05.0M10.0M15.0M196119862011

How they compare

Ethiopia currently reports 15.68 million hectares against 12.45 million hectares in South Africa, a difference of 3.24 million hectares.

That makes Ethiopia's figure about 1.3 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 51 shared years of data; in 1961 it was South Africa ahead.

Ethiopia ranks 3rd and South Africa ranks 6th of 52 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, Ethiopia averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade Ethiopia South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 12.43 million hectares 12.39 million hectares 44,444 hectares Ethiopia
1970s 13.68 million hectares 12.78 million hectares 900,900 hectares Ethiopia
1980s 12.65 million hectares 12.77 million hectares 124,200 hectares South Africa
1990s 10.77 million hectares 13.73 million hectares 2.96 million hectares South Africa
2000s 12.62 million hectares 13.58 million hectares 962,500 hectares South Africa
2010s 15.33 million hectares 12.70 million hectares 2.63 million hectares Ethiopia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher arable and permanent cropland, Ethiopia or South Africa?
Ethiopia, at 15.68 million hectares against 12.45 million hectares in South Africa as of 2011.
What is the difference in arable and permanent cropland between Ethiopia and South Africa?
3.24 million hectares, with Ethiopia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and South Africa?
51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.
How do Ethiopia and South Africa rank globally for arable and permanent cropland?
Ethiopia ranks 3rd and South Africa ranks 6th 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 South Africa: Arable and permanent cropland. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/compare/arable-and-permanent-cropland-hectares/ethiopia/south-africa/

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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

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