North Africa vs South Africa: Arable and permanent cropland

North Africa
28.51 million hectares
in 2011
South Africa
12.45 million hectares
in 2011
North Africa rank
6th
South Africa rank
6th

Arable and permanent cropland over time

  • North Africa
  • South Africa
010.0M20.0M30.0M196119862011

How they compare

North Africa currently reports 28.51 million hectares against 12.45 million hectares in South Africa, a difference of 16.06 million hectares.

That makes North Africa's figure about 2.3 times South Africa's.

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

North Africa ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 6th of 6 groups.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade North Africa South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 23.03 million hectares 12.39 million hectares 10.64 million hectares North Africa
1970s 24.82 million hectares 12.78 million hectares 12.04 million hectares North Africa
1980s 25.54 million hectares 12.77 million hectares 12.77 million hectares North Africa
1990s 28.03 million hectares 13.73 million hectares 14.30 million hectares North Africa
2000s 28.04 million hectares 13.58 million hectares 14.47 million hectares North Africa
2010s 28.42 million hectares 12.70 million hectares 15.72 million hectares North Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher arable and permanent cropland, North Africa or South Africa?
North Africa, at 28.51 million hectares against 12.45 million hectares in South Africa as of 2011.
What is the difference in arable and permanent cropland between North Africa and South Africa?
16.06 million hectares, with North Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for North Africa and South Africa?
51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.
How do North Africa and South Africa rank globally for arable and permanent cropland?
North Africa ranks 6th and South Africa ranks 6th of 6 groups.
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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North Africa vs South Africa: Arable and permanent cropland. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/compare/arable-and-permanent-cropland-hectares/north-africa/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