Agricultural land in Botswana
Botswana: Agricultural land was 258,620 sq. km in 2023. ▬ Flat
Agricultural land in Botswana, 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
Botswana recorded 258,620 sq. km for agricultural land in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Botswana peaked at 260,210 sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 257,840 sq. km, in 2007.
That places Botswana 43rd out of 210 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Agricultural land in Botswana, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 260,000 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 260,000 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 260,000 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 260,000 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 260,010 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 260,010 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 260,010 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 260,010 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 260,010 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 260,010 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 260,010 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 260,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 260,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 260,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 260,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 260,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 260,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 260,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 260,040 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 260,040 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 260,040 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 260,060 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 260,060 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 260,060 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 260,080 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 260,080 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 260,100 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 260,100 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 260,150 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 260,210 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 259,010 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 258,510 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 259,510 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 259,960 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 259,460 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 259,460 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 259,010 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 258,310 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 258,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 259,510 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 258,010 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 258,460 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 257,960 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 258,270 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 258,150 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 258,030 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 257,840 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 258,810 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 259,180 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 258,610 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 259,260 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 258,870 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 258,820 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 260,040 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 258,616 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 258,616 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 258,616 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 258,616 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 258,620 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 258,620 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 258,620 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 258,620 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 258,620 sq. km | +0.0% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 258,620 sq. km is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32,014 sq. km, 8.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 258,620 sq. km is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 135,094 sq. km, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 260,006 sq. km | 260,000 sq. km | 260,010 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 260,020 sq. km | 260,010 sq. km | 260,040 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 260,077 sq. km | 260,040 sq. km | 260,150 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 259,185 sq. km | 258,310 sq. km | 260,210 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 258,422 sq. km | 257,840 sq. km | 259,510 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 258,868 sq. km | 258,610 sq. km | 260,040 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 258,620 sq. km | 258,620 sq. km | 258,620 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 40 South Sudan 283,472 sq. km compare
- 41 France 282,972 sq. km compare
- 42 Cote d'Ivoire 274,993 sq. km compare
- 44 Uzbekistan 255,820 sq. km compare
- 45 Spain 247,727 sq. km compare
- 46 Peru 243,856 sq. km compare
More agriculture & rural data for Botswana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0178 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 138.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0839 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3204 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Botswana?
- Agricultural land in Botswana was 258,620 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 Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 260,210 sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 257,840 sq. km in 2007.
- How does Botswana rank for agricultural land?
- Botswana ranks 43rd out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Botswana 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.