Agricultural land in United States of America
United States of America: Agricultural land was 46.1% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Agricultural land in United States of America, 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 United States of America stood at 46.1%.
The figure is down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in United States of America peaked at 48.9% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 45.1%, in 2007.
United States of America ranks 74th of 210 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Agricultural land in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 48.9% | — |
| 1962 | 48.5% | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 48.2% | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 47.9% | -0.6% |
| 1965 | 47.6% | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 47.6% | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 47.6% | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 48.0% | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 47.7% | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 47.5% | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 47.2% | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 47.0% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 47.0% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 47.0% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 47.0% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 46.7% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 46.7% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 46.7% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 46.7% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 47.1% | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 47.1% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 47.1% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 47.1% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 47.1% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 46.6% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 46.6% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 46.6% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 46.6% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 46.6% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 46.4% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 46.2% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 46.0% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 45.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 45.5% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 45.3% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 45.3% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 45.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 45.2% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 45.3% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 45.1% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 45.1% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 45.1% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 45.1% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 45.1% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 45.1% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 45.4% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 45.6% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 45.8% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 46.0% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 46.2% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 46.3% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 46.4% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 46.5% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 46.6% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 46.7% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 46.6% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 46.5% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 46.3% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 46.2% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 46.1% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 46.1% | +0.0% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 46.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 24.8%, 1.9× the median. (79 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 47.9% | 47.5% | 48.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 47.2% | 46.7% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.9% | 46.6% | 47.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 45.9% | 45.2% | 46.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.2% | 45.1% | 45.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.4% | 45.8% | 46.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.2% | 46.1% | 46.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More agriculture & rural data for United States of America
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.96 % change on previous year (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0094 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 673.66 current US$ per person (2021)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1831 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1981 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.9% (2021)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.9% (2021)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in United States of America?
- Agricultural land in United States of America was 46.1% 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 48.9% in 1961.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.1% in 2007.
- How does United States of America rank for agricultural land?
- United States of America ranks 74th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States of America 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.