Agricultural land in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural land was 96.37 million hectares in 2011. ▬ Flat
Agricultural land in South Africa, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2011, agricultural land in South Africa stood at 96.37 million hectares.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in South Africa peaked at 101.33 million hectares in 1961 and was at its lowest, 94.03 million hectares, in 1982.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Agricultural land in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 101.33 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 100.14 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 99.00 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 97.75 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 96.61 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 96.44 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 96.18 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 95.99 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 95.79 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 95.59 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 95.39 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 95.19 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 94.99 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 94.81 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 94.58 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 94.38 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 94.32 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 94.28 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 94.21 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 94.16 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 94.10 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 94.03 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 94.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 94.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 94.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 94.40 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 94.65 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 94.90 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 95.30 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 95.60 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 96.00 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 96.47 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 96.94 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 97.27 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 97.52 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 97.89 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 97.94 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 97.99 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 98.06 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 98.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 98.01 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 98.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 97.93 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 97.61 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 97.48 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 96.89 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 96.89 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 97.11 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 96.99 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 96.89 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 96.37 million hectares | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 97.69 million hectares | 95.79 million hectares | 101.33 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 94.77 million hectares | 94.21 million hectares | 95.59 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 94.36 million hectares | 94.03 million hectares | 95.30 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.17 million hectares | 95.60 million hectares | 98.06 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 97.51 million hectares | 96.89 million hectares | 98.12 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.63 million hectares | 96.37 million hectares | 96.89 million hectares | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in South Africa?
- Agricultural land in South Africa was 96.37 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 101.33 million hectares in 1961.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 94.03 million hectares in 1982.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural land?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Agricultural land (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.