Agricultural land in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Agricultural land was 161,671 sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Agricultural land in Zimbabwe, 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 Zimbabwe is 161,671 sq. km, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in Zimbabwe peaked at 163,894 sq. km in 2008 and was at its lowest, 99,956 sq. km, in 1961.
That places Zimbabwe 55th out of 210 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 99,956 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 100,687 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 101,690 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 102,377 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 103,169 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 103,315 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 104,349 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 104,892 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 106,143 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 107,133 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 108,322 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 109,711 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 110,641 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 111,911 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 112,833 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 113,635 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 114,783 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 115,508 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 116,443 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 117,409 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 119,011 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 120,307 sq. km | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 122,459 sq. km | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 123,208 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 124,108 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 125,634 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 124,947 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 126,384 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 129,131 sq. km | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 130,446 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 132,312 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 131,028 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 133,340 sq. km | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 137,363 sq. km | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 138,425 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 141,124 sq. km | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 141,275 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 143,080 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 146,994 sq. km | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 151,174 sq. km | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 151,961 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 154,271 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 156,099 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 159,574 sq. km | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 160,555 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 162,515 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 161,487 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 163,894 sq. km | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 162,383 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 161,368 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 163,372 sq. km | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 161,902 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 161,874 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 161,853 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 161,829 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 161,810 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 161,788 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 161,768 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 161,779 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 161,769 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 161,739 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 161,694 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 161,671 sq. km | -0.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 161,671 sq. km is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93,990 sq. km, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 161,671 sq. km is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 135,094 sq. km, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 102,953 sq. km | 99,956 sq. km | 106,143 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 112,092 sq. km | 107,133 sq. km | 116,443 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 123,260 sq. km | 117,409 sq. km | 129,131 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 137,539 sq. km | 130,446 sq. km | 146,994 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 158,391 sq. km | 151,174 sq. km | 163,894 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 161,934 sq. km | 161,368 sq. km | 163,372 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 161,718 sq. km | 161,671 sq. km | 161,769 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More agriculture & rural data for Zimbabwe
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 34.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0947 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 286.19 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.8815 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.595 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 9.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 9.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in Zimbabwe?
- Agricultural land in Zimbabwe was 161,671 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 163,894 sq. km in 2008.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 99,956 sq. km in 1961.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for agricultural land?
- Zimbabwe ranks 55th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.