Agricultural land in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Agricultural land was 6.92 million sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in Africa Eastern and Southern, 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 sq. km.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agricultural land in Africa Eastern and Southern is 6.92 million sq. km, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 6.92 million sq. km in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.48 million sq. km, in 1965.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 25th out of 45 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.49 million sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 4.48 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 4.49 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 4.48 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 4.48 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 4.48 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 4.48 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 4.48 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 4.48 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 4.49 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 4.51 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 4.51 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 4.51 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 4.51 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 4.52 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 4.52 million sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 4.52 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 4.53 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 4.53 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 4.53 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4.55 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 4.55 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 4.56 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 4.56 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 4.59 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 4.60 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 4.60 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 4.61 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 4.62 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 4.62 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 4.63 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 4.65 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 5.04 million sq. km | +8.5% |
| 1994 | 5.06 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 5.07 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 5.08 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 5.09 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 5.11 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 5.14 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 5.16 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 5.17 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 5.18 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 5.20 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 5.22 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 5.24 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 5.25 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 5.27 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 5.28 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 5.32 million sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 5.34 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 5.38 million sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 6.80 million sq. km | +26.4% |
| 2013 | 6.81 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 6.83 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 6.84 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 6.86 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 6.87 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 6.89 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 6.90 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 6.91 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 6.91 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 6.92 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 6.92 million sq. km | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.48 million sq. km | 4.48 million sq. km | 4.49 million sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.52 million sq. km | 4.49 million sq. km | 4.53 million sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.58 million sq. km | 4.53 million sq. km | 4.62 million sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.95 million sq. km | 4.62 million sq. km | 5.14 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.23 million sq. km | 5.16 million sq. km | 5.32 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.55 million sq. km | 5.34 million sq. km | 6.90 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.92 million sq. km | 6.91 million sq. km | 6.92 million sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 22 Mali 432,795 sq. km compare
- 23 Mozambique 415,123 sq. km compare
- 24 Algeria 413,447 sq. km compare
- 25 Ukraine 413,110 sq. km compare
- 26 Madagascar 408,950 sq. km compare
- 27 Colombia 404,830 sq. km compare
- 28 Mauritania 397,100 sq. km compare
More agriculture & rural data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Rural population, per capita 0.613 units per person (2025)
- Rural population 483.55 million (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.8% (2025)
- Rural population 61.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.9% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 265.55 current US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1542 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 209.47 billion current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Agricultural land in Africa Eastern and Southern was 6.92 million sq. km 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 Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 6.92 million sq. km in 2023.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.48 million sq. km in 1965.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for agricultural land?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 25th out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern 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 (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agricultural land refers to the 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.