Agricultural land in India
India: Agricultural land was 60.1% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Agricultural land in India, 1961–2023
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of land area.
Analysis
In 2023, agricultural land in India stood at 60.1%.
That represents a change of down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in India peaked at 61.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 58.8%, in 1961.
India ranks 39th of 210 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Agricultural land in India, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 58.8% | — |
| 1962 | 59.4% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 59.2% | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 59.4% | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 59.6% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 59.7% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 59.8% | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 60.0% | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 59.8% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 59.8% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 60.1% | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 60.3% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 60.4% | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 60.7% | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 60.7% | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 60.6% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 60.7% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 60.8% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 60.7% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 61.0% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 61.0% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 61.1% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 60.9% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 61.0% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 61.0% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 61.1% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 61.0% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 61.0% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 61.0% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 60.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 60.7% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 60.9% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 60.8% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 60.9% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 60.9% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 60.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 60.7% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 60.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 60.7% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 60.6% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 60.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 60.4% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 60.5% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 60.6% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 60.4% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.3% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 60.2% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 60.2% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 60.0% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 60.1% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 60.1% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 59.5% | 58.8% | 60.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 60.3% | 59.8% | 60.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 60.9% | 60.6% | 61.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 60.9% | 60.7% | 61.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.6% | 60.4% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.4% | 60.2% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.1% | 60.0% | 60.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More agriculture & rural data for India
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1623 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 438.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4067 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6431 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in India?
- Agricultural land in India was 60.1% in 2023, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest agricultural land recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 61.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.8% in 1961.
- How does India rank for agricultural land?
- India ranks 39th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Agricultural land (% of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.