China vs Russia: Cropland extent over the long-term
China
133.72 million hectares
in 2025
Russia
123.44 million hectares
in 2025
China rank
3rd
Russia rank
4th
Cropland extent over the long-term over time
- China
- Russia
How they compare
China currently reports 133.72 million hectares against 123.44 million hectares in Russia, a difference of 10.28 million hectares.
That makes China's figure about 1.1 times Russia's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 108 shared years of data; in 1000 it was China ahead.
China ranks 3rd and Russia ranks 4th of 202 countries.
Across the 40 decades both report, China averaged higher in 30 and Russia in 10.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Russia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 20.62 million hectares | 3.48 million hectares | 17.13 million hectares | China |
| 1100s | 49.27 million hectares | 5.23 million hectares | 44.04 million hectares | China |
| 1200s | 55.15 million hectares | 7.92 million hectares | 47.23 million hectares | China |
| 1300s | 42.35 million hectares | 8.20 million hectares | 34.16 million hectares | China |
| 1400s | 37.27 million hectares | 8.20 million hectares | 29.07 million hectares | China |
| 1500s | 46.63 million hectares | 10.56 million hectares | 36.07 million hectares | China |
| 1600s | 48.81 million hectares | 13.26 million hectares | 35.55 million hectares | China |
| 1700s | 50.84 million hectares | 15.03 million hectares | 35.81 million hectares | China |
| 1710s | 53.08 million hectares | 18.30 million hectares | 34.78 million hectares | China |
| 1720s | 55.54 million hectares | 21.56 million hectares | 33.98 million hectares | China |
| 1730s | 56.67 million hectares | 24.83 million hectares | 31.85 million hectares | China |
| 1740s | 57.21 million hectares | 27.85 million hectares | 29.36 million hectares | China |
| 1750s | 58.15 million hectares | 30.35 million hectares | 27.81 million hectares | China |
| 1760s | 58.78 million hectares | 32.84 million hectares | 25.93 million hectares | China |
| 1770s | 59.53 million hectares | 35.34 million hectares | 24.19 million hectares | China |
| 1780s | 61.04 million hectares | 37.84 million hectares | 23.20 million hectares | China |
| 1790s | 62.90 million hectares | 40.34 million hectares | 22.57 million hectares | China |
| 1800s | 64.70 million hectares | 42.84 million hectares | 21.86 million hectares | China |
| 1810s | 67.45 million hectares | 45.34 million hectares | 22.12 million hectares | China |
| 1820s | 70.57 million hectares | 47.76 million hectares | 22.82 million hectares | China |
| 1830s | 71.64 million hectares | 50.44 million hectares | 21.20 million hectares | China |
| 1840s | 72.10 million hectares | 58.50 million hectares | 13.60 million hectares | China |
| 1850s | 72.53 million hectares | 62.74 million hectares | 9.79 million hectares | China |
| 1860s | 72.79 million hectares | 71.09 million hectares | 1.70 million hectares | China |
| 1870s | 72.57 million hectares | 76.46 million hectares | 3.89 million hectares | Russia |
| 1880s | 72.90 million hectares | 87.10 million hectares | 14.19 million hectares | Russia |
| 1890s | 74.86 million hectares | 99.22 million hectares | 24.36 million hectares | Russia |
| 1900s | 76.92 million hectares | 110.71 million hectares | 33.79 million hectares | Russia |
| 1910s | 81.20 million hectares | 136.78 million hectares | 55.58 million hectares | Russia |
| 1920s | 85.49 million hectares | 126.06 million hectares | 40.57 million hectares | Russia |
| 1930s | 89.78 million hectares | 139.99 million hectares | 50.21 million hectares | Russia |
| 1940s | 98.62 million hectares | 170.57 million hectares | 71.96 million hectares | Russia |
| 1950s | 119.00 million hectares | 128.36 million hectares | 9.36 million hectares | Russia |
| 1960s | 121.25 million hectares | 138.54 million hectares | 17.29 million hectares | Russia |
| 1970s | 138.15 million hectares | 136.11 million hectares | 2.04 million hectares | China |
| 1980s | 144.77 million hectares | 135.60 million hectares | 9.17 million hectares | China |
| 1990s | 141.85 million hectares | 130.50 million hectares | 11.35 million hectares | China |
| 2000s | 135.28 million hectares | 124.28 million hectares | 11.00 million hectares | China |
| 2010s | 133.37 million hectares | 124.06 million hectares | 9.31 million hectares | China |
| 2020s | 133.62 million hectares | 123.44 million hectares | 10.18 million hectares | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher cropland extent over the long-term, China or Russia?
- China, at 133.72 million hectares against 123.44 million hectares in Russia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in cropland extent over the long-term between China and Russia?
- 10.28 million hectares, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Russia?
- 108 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 2025.
- How do China and Russia rank globally for cropland extent over the long-term?
- China ranks 3rd and Russia ranks 4th of 202 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- HYDE (2025) β with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Cropland extent over the long-term. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Total cropland area for each separate country over time.