Germany vs South Africa: Cropland extent over the long-term
Germany
11.79 million hectares
in 2025
South Africa
12.41 million hectares
in 2025
Germany rank
29th
South Africa rank
27th
Cropland extent over the long-term over time
- Germany
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 12.41 million hectares against 11.79 million hectares in Germany, a difference of 624,500 hectares.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Germany's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 108 shared years of data; in 1000 it was Germany ahead.
Germany ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 27th of 202 countries.
Across the 40 decades both report, Germany averaged higher in 34 and South Africa in 6.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Germany | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 3.97 million hectares | 11,990 hectares | 3.95 million hectares | Germany |
| 1100s | 6.35 million hectares | 17,985 hectares | 6.33 million hectares | Germany |
| 1200s | 10.31 million hectares | 26,228 hectares | 10.29 million hectares | Germany |
| 1300s | 12.69 million hectares | 37,469 hectares | 12.66 million hectares | Germany |
| 1400s | 6.74 million hectares | 52,690 hectares | 6.69 million hectares | Germany |
| 1500s | 8.73 million hectares | 73,181 hectares | 8.65 million hectares | Germany |
| 1600s | 9.52 million hectares | 106,722 hectares | 9.41 million hectares | Germany |
| 1700s | 8.73 million hectares | 190,575 hectares | 8.54 million hectares | Germany |
| 1710s | 9.20 million hectares | 233,719 hectares | 8.97 million hectares | Germany |
| 1720s | 9.68 million hectares | 286,523 hectares | 9.39 million hectares | Germany |
| 1730s | 10.16 million hectares | 351,122 hectares | 9.80 million hectares | Germany |
| 1740s | 10.63 million hectares | 430,113 hectares | 10.20 million hectares | Germany |
| 1750s | 11.11 million hectares | 526,653 hectares | 10.58 million hectares | Germany |
| 1760s | 11.27 million hectares | 515,666 hectares | 10.75 million hectares | Germany |
| 1770s | 11.42 million hectares | 504,679 hectares | 10.92 million hectares | Germany |
| 1780s | 11.58 million hectares | 493,691 hectares | 11.09 million hectares | Germany |
| 1790s | 11.74 million hectares | 482,704 hectares | 11.26 million hectares | Germany |
| 1800s | 11.90 million hectares | 471,717 hectares | 11.43 million hectares | Germany |
| 1810s | 12.38 million hectares | 460,729 hectares | 11.92 million hectares | Germany |
| 1820s | 12.85 million hectares | 449,742 hectares | 12.40 million hectares | Germany |
| 1830s | 13.33 million hectares | 438,754 hectares | 12.89 million hectares | Germany |
| 1840s | 13.80 million hectares | 427,767 hectares | 13.38 million hectares | Germany |
| 1850s | 14.28 million hectares | 503,525 hectares | 13.78 million hectares | Germany |
| 1860s | 14.60 million hectares | 620,789 hectares | 13.98 million hectares | Germany |
| 1870s | 14.92 million hectares | 823,404 hectares | 14.09 million hectares | Germany |
| 1880s | 15.23 million hectares | 1.63 million hectares | 13.60 million hectares | Germany |
| 1890s | 15.55 million hectares | 2.00 million hectares | 13.55 million hectares | Germany |
| 1900s | 15.87 million hectares | 2.79 million hectares | 13.08 million hectares | Germany |
| 1910s | 15.55 million hectares | 3.74 million hectares | 11.81 million hectares | Germany |
| 1920s | 15.23 million hectares | 4.63 million hectares | 10.60 million hectares | Germany |
| 1930s | 14.92 million hectares | 5.77 million hectares | 9.15 million hectares | Germany |
| 1940s | 14.60 million hectares | 6.99 million hectares | 7.60 million hectares | Germany |
| 1950s | 13.58 million hectares | 10.36 million hectares | 3.22 million hectares | Germany |
| 1960s | 12.63 million hectares | 12.31 million hectares | 315,050 hectares | Germany |
| 1970s | 12.49 million hectares | 12.56 million hectares | 67,600 hectares | South Africa |
| 1980s | 12.44 million hectares | 12.75 million hectares | 316,200 hectares | South Africa |
| 1990s | 12.02 million hectares | 13.73 million hectares | 1.71 million hectares | South Africa |
| 2000s | 12.07 million hectares | 13.58 million hectares | 1.51 million hectares | South Africa |
| 2010s | 12.05 million hectares | 12.47 million hectares | 422,480 hectares | South Africa |
| 2020s | 11.83 million hectares | 12.41 million hectares | 578,767 hectares | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher cropland extent over the long-term, Germany or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 12.41 million hectares against 11.79 million hectares in Germany as of 2025.
- What is the difference in cropland extent over the long-term between Germany and South Africa?
- 624,500 hectares, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and South Africa?
- 108 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 2025.
- How do Germany and South Africa rank globally for cropland extent over the long-term?
- Germany ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 27th 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.