Agricultural land in Nepal
Nepal: Agricultural land was 37,441 sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in Nepal, 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 Nepal stood at 37,441 sq. km.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Nepal peaked at 42,590 sq. km in 2001 and was at its lowest, 35,530 sq. km, in 1961.
Nepal ranks 99th of 210 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Nepal, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 35,530 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 35,530 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 35,630 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 35,530 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 35,530 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 35,530 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 35,670 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 35,670 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 35,670 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 37,020 sq. km | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 37,020 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 38,220 sq. km | +3.2% |
| 1973 | 39,530 sq. km | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 39,940 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 40,090 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 40,250 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 40,400 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 40,550 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 40,700 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 40,850 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 41,030 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 41,066 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 41,102 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 41,138 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 41,164 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 41,320 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 41,346 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 41,382 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 41,408 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 41,444 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 41,470 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 41,582 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 41,694 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 41,806 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 41,918 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 42,030 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 42,142 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 42,254 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 42,366 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 42,491 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 42,590 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 42,410 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 42,270 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 42,180 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 42,020 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 41,850 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 41,660 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 41,520 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 41,400 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 41,260 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 41,266 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 40,876 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 40,562 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 40,378 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 40,086 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 39,753 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 39,479 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 38,666 sq. km | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 38,382 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 37,989 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 37,730 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 37,445 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 37,441 sq. km | -0.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 37,441 sq. km is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93,990 sq. km, 40% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 37,441 sq. km is above the median for South Asia, which is 33,755 sq. km, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 35,588 sq. km | 35,530 sq. km | 35,670 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 39,372 sq. km | 37,020 sq. km | 40,700 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 41,181 sq. km | 40,850 sq. km | 41,408 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 41,871 sq. km | 41,444 sq. km | 42,366 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 42,039 sq. km | 41,400 sq. km | 42,590 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 40,071 sq. km | 38,382 sq. km | 41,266 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 37,651 sq. km | 37,441 sq. km | 37,989 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More agriculture & rural data for Nepal
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2156 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 331.1 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7937 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.33 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Nepal?
- Agricultural land in Nepal was 37,441 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 42,590 sq. km in 2001.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 35,530 sq. km in 1961.
- How does Nepal rank for agricultural land?
- Nepal ranks 99th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.