Agricultural land in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Agricultural land was 3.76 million sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in Africa Western and Central, 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
In 2023, agricultural land in Africa Western and Central stood at 3.76 million sq. km. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Africa Western and Central peaked at 3.76 million sq. km in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.98 million sq. km, in 1961.
Africa Western and Central ranks 35th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.98 million sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 2.98 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 2.98 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 2.99 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 2.99 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 2.99 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 3.00 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 3.01 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 3.01 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 3.00 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 3.00 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 3.01 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 3.01 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 3.00 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 3.01 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 3.02 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 3.02 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3.03 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 3.03 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 3.05 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 3.04 million sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 3.05 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 3.06 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 3.07 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 3.08 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 3.09 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 3.09 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 3.10 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 3.11 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 3.14 million sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 3.15 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 3.18 million sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 3.20 million sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 3.23 million sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 3.28 million sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 3.30 million sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 3.31 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 3.32 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 3.34 million sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 3.35 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 3.37 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 3.38 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 3.40 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 3.40 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 3.46 million sq. km | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 3.46 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 3.48 million sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 3.50 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 3.51 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 3.53 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 3.54 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 3.57 million sq. km | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 3.59 million sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 3.61 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 3.64 million sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 3.64 million sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 3.66 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 3.69 million sq. km | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 3.70 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 3.72 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 3.74 million sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 3.75 million sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 3.76 million sq. km | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.99 million sq. km | 2.98 million sq. km | 3.01 million sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.01 million sq. km | 3.00 million sq. km | 3.03 million sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.07 million sq. km | 3.04 million sq. km | 3.11 million sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.24 million sq. km | 3.14 million sq. km | 3.34 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.43 million sq. km | 3.35 million sq. km | 3.51 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.62 million sq. km | 3.53 million sq. km | 3.70 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.74 million sq. km | 3.72 million sq. km | 3.76 million sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More agriculture & rural data for Africa Western and Central
- Rural population, per capita 0.4652 units per person (2025)
- Rural population 247.88 million (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.0% (2025)
- Rural population 46.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 4.2% (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 350.89 current US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2193 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 186.96 billion current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Africa Western and Central?
- Agricultural land in Africa Western and Central was 3.76 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 3.76 million sq. km in 2023.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.98 million sq. km in 1961.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for agricultural land?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 35th out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.
Download this data
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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.