Agricultural land in Rwanda
Rwanda: Agricultural land was 18,831 sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda stood at 18,831 sq. km.
The figure is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Rwanda peaked at 20,070 sq. km in 2015 and was at its lowest, 13,150 sq. km, in 1961.
Rwanda ranks 120th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 13,150 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 13,250 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 13,350 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 13,450 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 13,550 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 13,650 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 13,750 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 13,830 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 13,970 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 14,040 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 14,480 sq. km | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 15,080 sq. km | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 15,050 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 15,840 sq. km | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 16,120 sq. km | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 16,390 sq. km | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 16,650 sq. km | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 16,800 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 16,970 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 17,150 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 17,600 sq. km | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 17,750 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 17,900 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 18,080 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 18,190 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 18,300 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 18,420 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 18,530 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 18,540 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 18,780 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 18,750 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 18,350 sq. km | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 17,550 sq. km | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 15,500 sq. km | -11.7% |
| 1995 | 15,500 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 16,010 sq. km | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 16,510 sq. km | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 16,710 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 17,170 sq. km | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 18,260 sq. km | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 18,970 sq. km | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 18,880 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 18,860 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 18,830 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 18,810 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 18,840 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 18,780 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 18,800 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 19,060 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 19,220 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 19,430 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 19,590 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 19,800 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 20,060 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 20,070 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 20,050 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 20,050 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 19,490 sq. km | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 19,040 sq. km | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 19,586 sq. km | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 20,045 sq. km | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 19,745 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 18,831 sq. km | -4.6% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 18,831 sq. km is below the median for low income countries, which is 146,108 sq. km, 13% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 18,831 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 135,094 sq. km, 14% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 13,550 sq. km | 13,150 sq. km | 13,970 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 15,742 sq. km | 14,040 sq. km | 16,970 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 18,046 sq. km | 17,150 sq. km | 18,540 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,083 sq. km | 15,500 sq. km | 18,780 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,809 sq. km | 18,260 sq. km | 19,060 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,680 sq. km | 19,040 sq. km | 20,070 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,552 sq. km | 18,831 sq. km | 20,045 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More agriculture & rural data for Rwanda
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.203 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 228.16 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6953 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6909 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 20.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 20.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Rwanda?
- Agricultural land in Rwanda was 18,831 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 20,070 sq. km in 2015.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,150 sq. km in 1961.
- How does Rwanda rank for agricultural land?
- Rwanda ranks 120th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.