Arable and permanent cropland in South Africa
South Africa: Arable and permanent cropland was 12.45 million hectares in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
12.45 million hectares
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
6th
of 52 countries
All-time high
14.20 million hectares
in 2000
All-time low
12.19 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Arable and permanent cropland in South Africa, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arable and permanent cropland in South Africa is 12.45 million hectares, measured in 2011.
The figure is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arable and permanent cropland in South Africa peaked at 14.20 million hectares in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.19 million hectares, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 6th of 52 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Arable and permanent cropland in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 12.19 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 12.23 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 12.29 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 12.35 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 12.45 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 12.48 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 12.53 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 12.58 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 12.62 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 12.67 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 12.71 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 12.76 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 12.80 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 12.85 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 12.89 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 12.85 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 12.83 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 12.78 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 12.74 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 12.70 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 12.65 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 12.90 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 12.85 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 12.90 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 13.00 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 13.10 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 13.21 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 13.47 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 13.74 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 13.77 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 13.82 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 13.99 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 14.04 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 14.06 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 14.13 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 14.20 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 14.09 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 14.10 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 14.00 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 13.68 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 13.55 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 12.96 million hectares | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 12.96 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 13.18 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 13.06 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 12.96 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 12.45 million hectares | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.39 million hectares | 12.19 million hectares | 12.58 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 12.78 million hectares | 12.62 million hectares | 12.89 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.77 million hectares | 12.65 million hectares | 13.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.73 million hectares | 13.10 million hectares | 14.13 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.58 million hectares | 12.96 million hectares | 14.20 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.70 million hectares | 12.45 million hectares | 12.96 million hectares | 2 |
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 arable and permanent cropland in South Africa?
- Arable and permanent cropland in South Africa was 12.45 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest arable and permanent cropland recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.20 million hectares in 2000.
- What is the lowest arable and permanent cropland recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.19 million hectares in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for arable and permanent cropland?
- South Africa ranks 6th out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
- Is arable and permanent cropland rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Arable and permanent cropland (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
This land category is the sum of areas under “Arable land” and "Permanent crops”. 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