Agricultural land in South Asia
South Asia: Agricultural land was 58.3% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Agricultural land in South Asia, 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
South Asia recorded 58.3% for agricultural land in 2023.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in South Asia peaked at 59.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 56.6%, in 1961.
South Asia ranks 2nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
Agricultural land in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 56.6% | — |
| 1962 | 57.1% | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 57.1% | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 57.3% | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 57.5% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 57.6% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 57.7% | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 57.9% | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 57.7% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 57.9% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 57.8% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 58.0% | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 58.2% | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 58.4% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 58.5% | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 58.5% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 58.5% | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 58.9% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 58.8% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 58.7% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 58.8% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 58.9% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 58.8% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 59.1% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 59.1% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 59.0% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 59.2% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 59.1% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 59.3% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 59.2% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 59.3% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 59.0% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 58.9% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 59.0% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 58.9% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 58.8% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 59.0% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 59.0% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 59.0% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 59.0% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 58.8% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 58.8% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 58.8% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 58.8% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 58.8% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 58.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 58.5% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 58.6% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 58.7% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 58.6% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 58.6% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 58.6% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 58.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 58.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 58.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 58.6% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 58.5% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 58.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 58.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 58.3% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 58.3% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 58.3% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 58.3% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 57.4% | 56.6% | 57.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 58.4% | 57.8% | 58.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 59.0% | 58.7% | 59.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 59.0% | 58.8% | 59.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.8% | 58.5% | 59.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.5% | 58.4% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.3% | 58.3% | 58.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 1 Côte d'Ivoire 86.5% compare
- 2 Turkmenistan 84.2% compare
- 3 Burundi 83.9% compare
- 4 Uruguay 81.4% compare
- 5 Saudi Arabia 80.8% compare
More agriculture & rural data for South Asia
- Rural population, per capita 0.6421 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 15.6% (2025)
- Rural population 1.09 billion (2025)
- Rural population growth 0.4% (2025)
- Rural population 64.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.0% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 421.99 current US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.156 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in South Asia?
- Agricultural land in South Asia was 58.3% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 59.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.6% in 1961.
- How does South Asia rank for agricultural land?
- South Asia ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Asia 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.
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.