China vs United States: Cropland extent over the long-term
China
133.72 million hectares
in 2025
United States
160.44 million hectares
in 2025
China rank
3rd
United States rank
2nd
Cropland extent over the long-term over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 160.44 million hectares against 133.72 million hectares in China, a difference of 26.72 million hectares.
That makes United States's figure about 1.2 times China's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 108 shared years of data; in 1000 it was China ahead.
China ranks 3rd and United States ranks 2nd of 202 countries.
Across the 40 decades both report, China averaged higher in 25 and United States in 15.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 20.62 million hectares | 1.47 million hectares | 19.15 million hectares | China |
| 1100s | 49.27 million hectares | 1.58 million hectares | 47.69 million hectares | China |
| 1200s | 55.15 million hectares | 1.75 million hectares | 53.41 million hectares | China |
| 1300s | 42.35 million hectares | 1.89 million hectares | 40.46 million hectares | China |
| 1400s | 37.27 million hectares | 2.09 million hectares | 35.18 million hectares | China |
| 1500s | 46.63 million hectares | 2.26 million hectares | 44.36 million hectares | China |
| 1600s | 48.81 million hectares | 1.04 million hectares | 47.77 million hectares | China |
| 1700s | 50.84 million hectares | 1.28 million hectares | 49.56 million hectares | China |
| 1710s | 53.08 million hectares | 1.87 million hectares | 51.21 million hectares | China |
| 1720s | 55.54 million hectares | 2.49 million hectares | 53.05 million hectares | China |
| 1730s | 56.67 million hectares | 3.14 million hectares | 53.53 million hectares | China |
| 1740s | 57.21 million hectares | 3.86 million hectares | 53.35 million hectares | China |
| 1750s | 58.15 million hectares | 4.66 million hectares | 53.49 million hectares | China |
| 1760s | 58.78 million hectares | 5.47 million hectares | 53.31 million hectares | China |
| 1770s | 59.53 million hectares | 6.36 million hectares | 53.17 million hectares | China |
| 1780s | 61.04 million hectares | 7.38 million hectares | 53.66 million hectares | China |
| 1790s | 62.90 million hectares | 8.55 million hectares | 54.35 million hectares | China |
| 1800s | 64.70 million hectares | 11.40 million hectares | 53.30 million hectares | China |
| 1810s | 67.45 million hectares | 15.08 million hectares | 52.37 million hectares | China |
| 1820s | 70.57 million hectares | 19.76 million hectares | 50.81 million hectares | China |
| 1830s | 71.64 million hectares | 26.02 million hectares | 45.62 million hectares | China |
| 1840s | 72.10 million hectares | 33.77 million hectares | 38.32 million hectares | China |
| 1850s | 72.53 million hectares | 41.66 million hectares | 30.88 million hectares | China |
| 1860s | 72.79 million hectares | 59.15 million hectares | 13.63 million hectares | China |
| 1870s | 72.57 million hectares | 67.32 million hectares | 5.25 million hectares | China |
| 1880s | 72.90 million hectares | 100.89 million hectares | 27.99 million hectares | United States |
| 1890s | 74.86 million hectares | 125.82 million hectares | 50.96 million hectares | United States |
| 1900s | 76.92 million hectares | 144.42 million hectares | 67.51 million hectares | United States |
| 1910s | 81.20 million hectares | 167.07 million hectares | 85.87 million hectares | United States |
| 1920s | 85.49 million hectares | 178.56 million hectares | 93.06 million hectares | United States |
| 1930s | 89.78 million hectares | 184.45 million hectares | 94.67 million hectares | United States |
| 1940s | 98.62 million hectares | 178.97 million hectares | 80.35 million hectares | United States |
| 1950s | 119.00 million hectares | 187.29 million hectares | 68.29 million hectares | United States |
| 1960s | 121.25 million hectares | 181.18 million hectares | 59.93 million hectares | United States |
| 1970s | 138.15 million hectares | 189.27 million hectares | 51.12 million hectares | United States |
| 1980s | 144.77 million hectares | 189.36 million hectares | 44.59 million hectares | United States |
| 1990s | 141.85 million hectares | 183.37 million hectares | 41.52 million hectares | United States |
| 2000s | 135.28 million hectares | 172.81 million hectares | 37.54 million hectares | United States |
| 2010s | 133.37 million hectares | 160.43 million hectares | 27.05 million hectares | United States |
| 2020s | 133.62 million hectares | 160.44 million hectares | 26.82 million hectares | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher cropland extent over the long-term, China or United States?
- United States, at 160.44 million hectares against 133.72 million hectares in China as of 2025.
- What is the difference in cropland extent over the long-term between China and United States?
- 26.72 million hectares, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 108 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 2025.
- How do China and United States rank globally for cropland extent over the long-term?
- China ranks 3rd and United States ranks 2nd 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.