Agricultural land in Kenya
Kenya: Agricultural land was 287,687 sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in Kenya, 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 Kenya is 287,687 sq. km, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Kenya peaked at 287,687 sq. km in 2023 and was at its lowest, 250,270 sq. km, in 1961.
Kenya ranks 39th of 210 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Kenya, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 250,270 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 250,353 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 250,435 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 250,518 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 250,600 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 250,683 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 250,765 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 250,848 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 250,930 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 251,013 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 251,095 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 251,178 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 251,260 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 251,343 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 255,720 sq. km | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 255,780 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 255,800 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 254,583 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 254,665 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 254,748 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 254,830 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 254,913 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 254,995 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 254,328 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 262,900 sq. km | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 263,173 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 263,875 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 266,228 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 270,220 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 267,473 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 268,625 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 270,658 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 268,420 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 272,423 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 272,365 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 264,778 sq. km | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 266,290 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 265,013 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 269,275 sq. km | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 267,308 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 268,390 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 268,180 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 268,740 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 269,920 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 270,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 270,540 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 270,663 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 270,887 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 273,110 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 273,868 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 279,300 sq. km | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 282,694 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 283,391 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 283,131 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 283,046 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 284,586 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 281,345 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 285,898 sq. km | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 286,667 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 286,890 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 286,961 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 287,435 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 287,687 sq. km | +0.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 287,687 sq. km is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93,990 sq. km, 3.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 287,687 sq. km is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 135,094 sq. km, 2.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 250,600 sq. km | 250,270 sq. km | 250,930 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 253,244 sq. km | 251,013 sq. km | 255,800 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 260,021 sq. km | 254,328 sq. km | 270,220 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 268,532 sq. km | 264,778 sq. km | 272,423 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 269,776 sq. km | 267,308 sq. km | 273,110 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 282,393 sq. km | 273,868 sq. km | 286,667 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 287,243 sq. km | 286,890 sq. km | 287,687 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 36 Pakistan 359,950 sq. km compare
- 37 Democratic Republic of Congo 350,957 sq. km compare
- 38 Morocco 297,883 sq. km compare
- 40 South Sudan 283,472 sq. km compare
- 41 France 282,972 sq. km compare
- 42 Cote d'Ivoire 274,993 sq. km compare
More agriculture & rural data for Kenya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 16.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2316 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 547.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6779 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Kenya?
- Agricultural land in Kenya was 287,687 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 287,687 sq. km in 2023.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 250,270 sq. km in 1961.
- How does Kenya rank for agricultural land?
- Kenya ranks 39th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya 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.