Agricultural land in Benin
Benin: Agricultural land was 47,168 sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in Benin, 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 Benin is 47,168 sq. km, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Benin peaked at 48,557 sq. km in 2022 and was at its lowest, 14,146 sq. km, in 1961.
Benin ranks 90th of 210 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Benin, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 14,146 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 14,352 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 14,557 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 14,738 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 14,958 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 15,258 sq. km | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 15,696 sq. km | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 16,004 sq. km | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 16,850 sq. km | +5.3% |
| 1970 | 17,067 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 17,556 sq. km | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 17,867 sq. km | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 18,057 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 18,327 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 18,728 sq. km | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 18,993 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 19,326 sq. km | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 19,537 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 19,733 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 20,043 sq. km | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 20,348 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 20,753 sq. km | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 20,738 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 20,928 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 21,259 sq. km | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 21,860 sq. km | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 21,960 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 22,062 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 22,056 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 22,613 sq. km | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 22,683 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 22,902 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 23,258 sq. km | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 23,871 sq. km | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 25,146 sq. km | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 27,048 sq. km | +7.6% |
| 1997 | 28,899 sq. km | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 30,408 sq. km | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 31,060 sq. km | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 31,919 sq. km | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 32,595 sq. km | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 33,673 sq. km | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 34,710 sq. km | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 34,592 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 34,736 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 33,393 sq. km | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 33,791 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 35,839 sq. km | +6.1% |
| 2009 | 37,403 sq. km | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 34,871 sq. km | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 36,194 sq. km | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 37,652 sq. km | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 39,805 sq. km | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 39,979 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 40,732 sq. km | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 38,767 sq. km | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 40,934 sq. km | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 44,608 sq. km | +9.0% |
| 2019 | 46,312 sq. km | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 44,330 sq. km | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 46,234 sq. km | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 48,557 sq. km | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 47,168 sq. km | -2.9% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 47,168 sq. km is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93,990 sq. km, 50% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Benin's 47,168 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 135,094 sq. km, 35% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15,173 sq. km | 14,146 sq. km | 16,850 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 18,519 sq. km | 17,067 sq. km | 19,733 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 21,201 sq. km | 20,043 sq. km | 22,062 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 25,789 sq. km | 22,613 sq. km | 31,060 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 34,265 sq. km | 31,919 sq. km | 37,403 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 39,986 sq. km | 34,871 sq. km | 46,312 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 46,572 sq. km | 44,330 sq. km | 48,557 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More agriculture & rural data for Benin
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2292 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 380.06 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6697 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4664 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 22.9% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 22.9% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 52.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Benin?
- Agricultural land in Benin was 47,168 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 Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 48,557 sq. km in 2022.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,146 sq. km in 1961.
- How does Benin rank for agricultural land?
- Benin ranks 90th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin 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.