Agricultural land in Ireland
Ireland: Agricultural land was 41,890 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Agricultural land in Ireland, 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 Ireland is 41,890 sq. km, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Ireland peaked at 49,315 sq. km in 1980 and was at its lowest, 41,890 sq. km, in 2023.
Ireland ranks 93rd of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Ireland, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 45,580 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 46,137 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 46,169 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 46,596 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 47,078 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 47,537 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 47,826 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 48,029 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 48,160 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 47,943 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1971 | 48,240 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 48,274 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 48,420 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 48,488 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 48,355 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 48,520 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 48,808 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 48,853 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 48,962 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 49,315 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 49,091 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 48,952 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 48,765 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 48,934 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 48,836 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 48,449 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 48,170 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 48,005 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 46,767 sq. km | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 45,374 sq. km | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 44,448 sq. km | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 44,162 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 44,073 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 43,936 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 43,887 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 43,418 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 43,556 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 43,695 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 43,833 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 43,962 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 44,100 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 43,730 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 43,700 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 43,050 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 43,020 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 42,600 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 42,760 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 46,290 sq. km | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 45,939 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 45,680 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 45,550 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 45,330 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 44,770 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 44,660 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 44,300 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 44,610 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 44,890 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 45,160 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 45,240 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 45,120 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 43,370 sq. km | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 43,480 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 41,890 sq. km | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 47,012 sq. km | 45,580 sq. km | 48,160 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 48,486 sq. km | 47,943 sq. km | 48,962 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 48,528 sq. km | 46,767 sq. km | 49,315 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 44,038 sq. km | 43,418 sq. km | 45,374 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 43,915 sq. km | 42,600 sq. km | 46,290 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 45,019 sq. km | 44,300 sq. km | 45,680 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 43,465 sq. km | 41,890 sq. km | 45,120 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More agriculture & rural data for Ireland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 22.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0106 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,391 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.9559 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3541 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 1.06 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 1.06 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Ireland?
- Agricultural land in Ireland was 41,890 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 49,315 sq. km in 1980.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 41,890 sq. km in 2023.
- How does Ireland rank for agricultural land?
- Ireland ranks 93rd out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.