Agricultural land in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Agricultural land was 170,094 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Agricultural land in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern 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
In 2023, agricultural land in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 170,094 sq. km.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 198,000 sq. km in 1961 and was at its lowest, 169,530 sq. km, in 2001.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 53rd of 209 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 198,000 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 197,790 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 197,470 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 197,030 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 195,850 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 195,500 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 195,540 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 194,260 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 193,800 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 188,490 sq. km | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 188,430 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 187,560 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 186,960 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1974 | 186,380 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 185,830 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 185,680 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 184,900 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 184,780 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 184,520 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 184,690 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 183,200 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 182,810 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 182,160 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 182,020 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 181,680 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 181,300 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 181,160 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 184,230 sq. km | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 183,060 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 182,030 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 181,430 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 180,700 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 175,340 sq. km | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 174,090 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 173,790 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 174,940 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 175,850 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 175,180 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 172,190 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 169,640 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 169,530 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 169,760 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 169,560 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 170,510 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 169,560 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 178,380 sq. km | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 176,470 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 176,840 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 173,250 sq. km | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 172,240 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 171,640 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 171,820 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 172,502 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 172,320 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 171,380 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 173,500 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 174,662 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 173,509 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 175,213 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 172,593 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 172,151 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 174,145 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 170,094 sq. km | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 196,138 sq. km | 193,800 sq. km | 198,000 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 186,353 sq. km | 184,520 sq. km | 188,490 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 182,631 sq. km | 181,160 sq. km | 184,690 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 176,554 sq. km | 172,190 sq. km | 182,030 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 172,350 sq. km | 169,530 sq. km | 178,380 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 172,879 sq. km | 171,380 sq. km | 175,213 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 172,246 sq. km | 170,094 sq. km | 174,145 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More agriculture & rural data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 368.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1852 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1668 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 0.64 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 0.64 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Agricultural land in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 170,094 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 198,000 sq. km in 1961.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 169,530 sq. km in 2001.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for agricultural land?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 53rd out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern 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
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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.