Agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa: Agricultural land was 964.77 million hectares in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
964.77 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.1%
Rank
4th
of 6 groups
All-time high
964.77 million hectares
in 2011
All-time low
858.28 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011

Agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1961–2011

0200.0M400.0M600.0M800.0M1.0B196119862011

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

In 2011, agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa stood at 964.77 million hectares. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.

The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa peaked at 964.77 million hectares in 2011 and was at its lowest, 858.28 million hectares, in 1961.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.

Agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Agricultural land (hectares) in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1961 to 2011.
Year hectares Change
1961 858.28 million hectares
1962 859.68 million hectares +0.2%
1963 861.65 million hectares +0.2%
1964 862.95 million hectares +0.2%
1965 864.25 million hectares +0.2%
1966 866.99 million hectares +0.3%
1967 867.81 million hectares +0.1%
1968 869.46 million hectares +0.2%
1969 870.78 million hectares +0.2%
1970 871.25 million hectares +0.1%
1971 874.17 million hectares +0.3%
1972 875.13 million hectares +0.1%
1973 875.41 million hectares +0.0%
1974 875.33 million hectares -0.0%
1975 876.75 million hectares +0.2%
1976 878.00 million hectares +0.1%
1977 878.73 million hectares +0.1%
1978 880.38 million hectares +0.2%
1979 880.63 million hectares +0.0%
1980 881.55 million hectares +0.1%
1981 881.58 million hectares +0.0%
1982 882.55 million hectares +0.1%
1983 884.06 million hectares +0.2%
1984 884.65 million hectares +0.1%
1985 889.63 million hectares +0.6%
1986 894.23 million hectares +0.5%
1987 896.38 million hectares +0.2%
1988 901.21 million hectares +0.5%
1989 904.35 million hectares +0.3%
1990 906.32 million hectares +0.2%
1991 907.96 million hectares +0.2%
1992 910.81 million hectares +0.3%
1993 897.28 million hectares -1.5%
1994 901.75 million hectares +0.5%
1995 905.27 million hectares +0.4%
1996 906.46 million hectares +0.1%
1997 909.19 million hectares +0.3%
1998 913.55 million hectares +0.5%
1999 917.33 million hectares +0.4%
2000 920.17 million hectares +0.3%
2001 925.68 million hectares +0.6%
2002 929.08 million hectares +0.4%
2003 935.95 million hectares +0.7%
2004 937.95 million hectares +0.2%
2005 949.10 million hectares +1.2%
2006 952.77 million hectares +0.4%
2007 955.07 million hectares +0.2%
2008 960.30 million hectares +0.5%
2009 959.19 million hectares -0.1%
2010 963.58 million hectares +0.5%
2011 964.77 million hectares +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 864.65 million hectares 858.28 million hectares 870.78 million hectares 9
1970s 876.58 million hectares 871.25 million hectares 880.63 million hectares 10
1980s 890.02 million hectares 881.55 million hectares 904.35 million hectares 10
1990s 907.59 million hectares 897.28 million hectares 917.33 million hectares 10
2000s 942.53 million hectares 920.17 million hectares 960.30 million hectares 10
2010s 964.18 million hectares 963.58 million hectares 964.77 million hectares 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

  1. 1 Sudan 136.25 million hectares compare
  2. 2 South Africa 96.37 million hectares compare
  3. 3 Nigeria 76.20 million hectares compare
  4. 4 Angola 58.39 million hectares compare
  5. 5 Chad 49.93 million hectares compare
  6. 6 Mozambique 49.40 million hectares compare
  7. 7 Somalia 44.13 million hectares compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More agriculture & rural data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa was 964.77 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
What is the highest agricultural land recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 964.77 million hectares in 2011.
What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 858.28 million hectares in 1961.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa rank for agricultural land?
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ranks 4th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is agricultural land rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding 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.

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Agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/agricultural-land-hectares/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Agricultural land (hectares)
Unit
hectares
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
59 places, 2,977 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed

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.