Agricultural land in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural land was 963,410 sq. km in 2023. ▬ Flat
Agricultural land in South Africa, 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 South Africa stood at 963,410 sq. km.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in South Africa peaked at 1.01 million sq. km in 1961 and was at its lowest, 940,330 sq. km, in 1982.
That places South Africa 13th out of 209 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Agricultural land in South Africa, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.01 million sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 1.00 million sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 989,950 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 977,500 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 966,100 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 964,240 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 961,480 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 959,270 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 956,960 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 954,650 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 952,340 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 950,080 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 947,720 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 945,560 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 943,050 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 940,690 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 940,580 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 940,670 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 940,560 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 940,550 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 940,440 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 940,330 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 940,330 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 940,330 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 940,330 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 944,000 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 946,500 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 949,000 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 953,000 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 956,000 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 960,050 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 964,730 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 969,360 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 972,650 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 975,200 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 978,900 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 979,450 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 979,880 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 980,580 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 981,250 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 980,130 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 980,280 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 979,280 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 976,080 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 974,830 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 968,880 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 968,900 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 971,080 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 969,880 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 968,910 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 963,740 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 963,410 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 963,410 sq. km | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 976,689 sq. km | 956,960 sq. km | 1.01 million sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 945,590 sq. km | 940,560 sq. km | 954,650 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 943,481 sq. km | 940,330 sq. km | 953,000 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 971,680 sq. km | 956,000 sq. km | 980,580 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 975,059 sq. km | 968,880 sq. km | 981,250 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 963,993 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km | 968,910 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 963,410 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in South Africa?
- Agricultural land in South Africa was 963,410 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.01 million sq. km in 1961.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 940,330 sq. km in 1982.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural land?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa 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.