Agricultural land in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural land was 96.34 million in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
96.34 million
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
14th
of 227 countries
All-time high
101.33 million
in 1961
All-time low
94.03 million
in 1982
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Agricultural land in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, agricultural land in South Africa stood at 96.34 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in South Africa peaked at 101.33 million in 1961 and was at its lowest, 94.03 million, in 1982.
South Africa ranks 14th of 227 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Agricultural land in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 101.33 million | — |
| 1962 | 100.14 million | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 99.00 million | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 97.75 million | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 96.61 million | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 96.42 million | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 96.15 million | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 95.93 million | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 95.70 million | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 95.47 million | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 95.23 million | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 95.01 million | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 94.77 million | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 94.56 million | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 94.31 million | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 94.07 million | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 94.06 million | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 94.07 million | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 94.06 million | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 94.06 million | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 94.04 million | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 94.03 million | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 94.03 million | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 94.03 million | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 94.03 million | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 94.40 million | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 94.65 million | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 94.90 million | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 95.30 million | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 95.60 million | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 96.00 million | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 96.47 million | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 96.94 million | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 97.27 million | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 97.52 million | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 97.89 million | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 97.94 million | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 97.99 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 98.06 million | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 98.12 million | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 98.01 million | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 98.03 million | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 97.93 million | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 97.61 million | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 97.48 million | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 96.89 million | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 96.89 million | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 97.11 million | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 96.99 million | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 96.89 million | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 96.37 million | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 96.34 million | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 96.34 million | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 97.67 million | 95.70 million | 101.33 million | 9 |
| 1970s | 94.56 million | 94.06 million | 95.47 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 94.35 million | 94.03 million | 95.30 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.17 million | 95.60 million | 98.06 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 97.51 million | 96.89 million | 98.12 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.40 million | 96.34 million | 96.89 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.34 million | 96.34 million | 96.34 million | 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)
- Agriculture share gdp 2.83 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 2.83 (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 96.34 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 101.33 million in 1961.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 94.03 million in 1982.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural land?
- South Africa ranks 14th out of 227 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Agricultural land. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).