Agricultural land in Canada
Canada: Agricultural land was 568,750 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Agricultural land in Canada, 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 Canada stood at 568,750 sq. km. That is the lowest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Canada peaked at 637,010 sq. km in 1966 and was at its lowest, 568,750 sq. km, in 2023.
Canada ranks 15th of 210 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Canada, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 618,430 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 622,800 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 627,170 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 631,540 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 635,910 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 637,010 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 635,660 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 634,310 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 632,960 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 631,610 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 630,230 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 630,500 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 630,770 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 631,040 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 631,310 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 631,590 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 627,850 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 624,100 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 620,350 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 616,600 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 612,900 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 612,120 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 611,340 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 610,560 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 609,780 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 608,989 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 610,250 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 611,510 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 612,770 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 614,030 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 615,332 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 614,650 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 613,970 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 613,290 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 612,610 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 611,920 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 612,150 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 612,390 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 612,630 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 612,870 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 613,082 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 620,910 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 619,460 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 618,010 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 616,560 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 605,840 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 600,080 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 594,320 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 588,560 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 582,800 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 576,997 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 577,710 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 578,420 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 579,130 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 579,850 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 580,500 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 578,676 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 578,892 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 576,878 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 571,174 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 569,910 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 570,770 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 568,750 sq. km | -0.4% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 568,750 sq. km is above the median for high income countries, which is 9,820 sq. km, 57.9× the median. (79 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 630,643 sq. km | 618,430 sq. km | 637,010 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 628,935 sq. km | 620,350 sq. km | 631,610 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 611,682 sq. km | 608,989 sq. km | 616,600 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 613,297 sq. km | 611,920 sq. km | 615,332 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 608,969 sq. km | 588,560 sq. km | 620,910 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 578,985 sq. km | 576,878 sq. km | 582,800 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 570,151 sq. km | 568,750 sq. km | 571,174 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More agriculture & rural data for Canada
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 31.61 % change on previous year (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0193 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,092 current US$ per person (2022)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.0803 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1712 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.9% (2022)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.9% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Canada?
- Agricultural land in Canada was 568,750 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 637,010 sq. km in 1966.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 568,750 sq. km in 2023.
- How does Canada rank for agricultural land?
- Canada ranks 15th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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.