South Africa vs Vietnam: Cropland extent over the long-term
South Africa
12.41 million hectares
in 2025
Vietnam
11.83 million hectares
in 2025
South Africa rank
27th
Vietnam rank
28th
Cropland extent over the long-term over time
- South Africa
- Vietnam
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 12.41 million hectares against 11.83 million hectares in Vietnam, a difference of 581,800 hectares.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 108 shared years of data; in 1000 it was Vietnam ahead.
South Africa ranks 27th and Vietnam ranks 28th of 202 countries.
Across the 40 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 10 and Vietnam in 30.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Vietnam | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 11,990 hectares | 180,199 hectares | 168,209 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1100s | 17,985 hectares | 234,154 hectares | 216,169 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1200s | 26,228 hectares | 288,078 hectares | 261,850 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1300s | 37,469 hectares | 341,980 hectares | 304,511 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1400s | 52,690 hectares | 395,863 hectares | 343,173 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1500s | 73,181 hectares | 449,732 hectares | 376,551 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1600s | 106,722 hectares | 562,048 hectares | 455,326 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1700s | 190,575 hectares | 674,335 hectares | 483,760 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1710s | 233,719 hectares | 740,838 hectares | 507,119 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1720s | 286,523 hectares | 807,339 hectares | 520,816 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1730s | 351,122 hectares | 873,838 hectares | 522,716 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1740s | 430,113 hectares | 940,336 hectares | 510,223 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1750s | 526,653 hectares | 1.01 million hectares | 480,177 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1760s | 515,666 hectares | 1.07 million hectares | 557,654 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1770s | 504,679 hectares | 1.14 million hectares | 635,141 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1780s | 493,691 hectares | 1.21 million hectares | 712,619 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1790s | 482,704 hectares | 1.27 million hectares | 790,086 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1800s | 471,717 hectares | 1.34 million hectares | 867,563 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1810s | 460,729 hectares | 1.41 million hectares | 945,041 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1820s | 449,742 hectares | 1.47 million hectares | 1.02 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1830s | 438,754 hectares | 1.65 million hectares | 1.21 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1840s | 427,767 hectares | 1.83 million hectares | 1.40 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1850s | 503,525 hectares | 2.01 million hectares | 1.50 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1860s | 620,789 hectares | 2.19 million hectares | 1.57 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1870s | 823,404 hectares | 2.37 million hectares | 1.54 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1880s | 1.63 million hectares | 2.86 million hectares | 1.23 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1890s | 2.00 million hectares | 3.52 million hectares | 1.52 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1900s | 2.79 million hectares | 4.23 million hectares | 1.44 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1910s | 3.74 million hectares | 4.99 million hectares | 1.25 million hectares | Vietnam |
| 1920s | 4.63 million hectares | 5.57 million hectares | 941,710 hectares | Vietnam |
| 1930s | 5.77 million hectares | 5.23 million hectares | 532,220 hectares | South Africa |
| 1940s | 6.99 million hectares | 4.81 million hectares | 2.19 million hectares | South Africa |
| 1950s | 10.36 million hectares | 4.97 million hectares | 5.39 million hectares | South Africa |
| 1960s | 12.31 million hectares | 6.05 million hectares | 6.26 million hectares | South Africa |
| 1970s | 12.56 million hectares | 6.33 million hectares | 6.23 million hectares | South Africa |
| 1980s | 12.75 million hectares | 6.49 million hectares | 6.27 million hectares | South Africa |
| 1990s | 13.73 million hectares | 6.92 million hectares | 6.81 million hectares | South Africa |
| 2000s | 13.58 million hectares | 9.14 million hectares | 4.44 million hectares | South Africa |
| 2010s | 12.47 million hectares | 10.86 million hectares | 1.61 million hectares | South Africa |
| 2020s | 12.41 million hectares | 11.75 million hectares | 661,950 hectares | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher cropland extent over the long-term, South Africa or Vietnam?
- South Africa, at 12.41 million hectares against 11.83 million hectares in Vietnam as of 2025.
- What is the difference in cropland extent over the long-term between South Africa and Vietnam?
- 581,800 hectares, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Vietnam?
- 108 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and Vietnam rank globally for cropland extent over the long-term?
- South Africa ranks 27th and Vietnam ranks 28th 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.