China vs United States: Land used for agriculture

China
524.84 million
in 2010
United States
381.41 million
in 2010
China rank
1st
United States rank
2nd

Land used for agriculture over time

  • China
  • United States
0200.0M400.0M600.0M178018952010

How they compare

China currently reports 524.84 million against 381.41 million in United States, a difference of 143.43 million.

That makes China's figure about 1.4 times United States's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 24 shared years of data; in 1780 it was China ahead.

China ranks 1st and United States ranks 2nd of 179 countries.

Across the 24 decades both report, China averaged higher in 15 and United States in 9.

Head to head by decade

Decade China United States Difference Ahead
1780s 177.00 million 3.95 million 173.05 million China
1790s 183.47 million 5.82 million 177.64 million China
1800s 179.57 million 9.86 million 169.71 million China
1810s 195.06 million 14.35 million 180.71 million China
1820s 195.47 million 20.35 million 175.13 million China
1830s 203.95 million 28.78 million 175.17 million China
1840s 204.97 million 41.22 million 163.75 million China
1850s 205.86 million 59.54 million 146.32 million China
1860s 195.53 million 85.55 million 109.98 million China
1870s 189.62 million 105.33 million 84.29 million China
1880s 192.62 million 164.94 million 27.68 million China
1890s 198.75 million 235.58 million 36.83 million United States
1900s 206.78 million 268.96 million 62.19 million United States
1910s 216.53 million 320.46 million 103.93 million United States
1920s 233.61 million 348.13 million 114.52 million United States
1930s 240.73 million 364.33 million 123.60 million United States
1940s 250.48 million 363.86 million 113.38 million United States
1950s 260.67 million 394.96 million 134.28 million United States
1960s 336.08 million 417.92 million 81.84 million United States
1970s 366.98 million 404.13 million 37.15 million United States
1980s 421.97 million 396.78 million 25.19 million China
1990s 510.83 million 391.67 million 119.16 million China
2000s 518.20 million 382.93 million 135.27 million China
2010s 524.84 million 381.41 million 143.43 million China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher land used for agriculture, China or United States?
China, at 524.84 million against 381.41 million in United States as of 2010.
What is the difference in land used for agriculture between China and United States?
143.43 million, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
24 years are reported by both, from 1780 to 2010.
How do China and United States rank globally for land used for agriculture?
China ranks 1st and United States ranks 2nd of 179 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Land used for agriculture. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs United States: Land used for agriculture. Statizoid, drawing on Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/compare/land-use-agriculture-longterm/china/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Land used for agriculture
Source
Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
179 places, 4,296 data points, 1780–2010
Last refreshed

Agricultural land use is the sum of croplands and pasture – land used for grazing livestock. It is measured in hectares.