Agricultural land in China
China: Agricultural land was 5.20 million sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in China, 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 China is 5.20 million sq. km, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in China peaked at 5.28 million sq. km in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.42 million sq. km, in 1961.
That places China 1st out of 210 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in China, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.42 million sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 3.45 million sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 3.48 million sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 3.51 million sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 3.55 million sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 3.58 million sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 3.62 million sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 3.65 million sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 3.70 million sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 3.75 million sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 3.79 million sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 3.84 million sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 3.89 million sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 3.96 million sq. km | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 4.01 million sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 4.07 million sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 4.12 million sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 4.18 million sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 4.23 million sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 4.28 million sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 4.33 million sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 4.43 million sq. km | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 4.53 million sq. km | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 4.65 million sq. km | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 4.76 million sq. km | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 4.82 million sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 4.88 million sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 4.93 million sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 4.99 million sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 5.06 million sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 5.11 million sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 5.14 million sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 5.18 million sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 5.23 million sq. km | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 5.23 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 5.23 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 5.23 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 5.23 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 5.23 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 5.23 million sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 5.23 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 5.24 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 5.25 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 5.25 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 5.26 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 5.26 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 5.27 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 5.28 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 5.28 million sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 5.27 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 5.27 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 5.26 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 5.25 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 5.24 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 5.24 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 5.23 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 5.22 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 5.21 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 5.21 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 5.21 million sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 5.21 million sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 5.20 million sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 5.20 million sq. km | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 5.20 million sq. km is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32,014 sq. km, 162.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 5.20 million sq. km is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,493 sq. km, 2087.5× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.55 million sq. km | 3.42 million sq. km | 3.70 million sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.98 million sq. km | 3.75 million sq. km | 4.23 million sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.66 million sq. km | 4.28 million sq. km | 4.99 million sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.19 million sq. km | 5.06 million sq. km | 5.23 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.26 million sq. km | 5.23 million sq. km | 5.28 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.24 million sq. km | 5.21 million sq. km | 5.27 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.20 million sq. km | 5.20 million sq. km | 5.21 million sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in China?
- Agricultural land in China was 5.20 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.28 million sq. km in 2009.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.42 million sq. km in 1961.
- How does China rank for agricultural land?
- China ranks 1st out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.