Arable land in Canada
Canada: Arable land was 38.15 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
38.15 million hectares
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
7th
of 206 countries
All-time high
41.58 million hectares
in 1986
All-time low
36.61 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Arable land in Canada, 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 hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, arable land in Canada stood at 38.15 million hectares.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arable land in Canada peaked at 41.58 million hectares in 1986 and was at its lowest, 36.61 million hectares, in 1961.
That places Canada 7th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Arable land in Canada, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 36.61 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 36.94 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 37.26 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 37.59 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 37.91 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 38.23 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 38.30 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 38.37 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 38.43 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 38.50 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 38.57 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 38.69 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 38.81 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 38.93 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 39.06 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 39.18 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 39.46 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 39.74 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 40.02 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 40.30 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 40.58 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 40.78 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 40.98 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 41.18 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 41.38 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 41.58 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 41.53 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 41.47 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 41.42 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 41.37 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 41.32 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 41.27 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 41.21 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 41.16 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 41.11 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 41.06 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 41.04 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 41.02 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 40.99 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 40.97 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 40.95 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 40.62 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 40.28 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 39.95 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 39.62 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 39.28 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 38.88 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 38.48 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 38.09 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 37.69 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 37.28 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 37.53 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 37.78 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 38.03 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 38.28 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 38.53 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 38.51 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 38.69 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 38.65 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 38.23 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 38.26 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 38.35 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 38.15 million hectares | -0.5% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 38.15 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 178,890 hectares, 213.3× the median. (77 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 37.74 million hectares | 36.61 million hectares | 38.43 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 39.09 million hectares | 38.50 million hectares | 40.02 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 41.12 million hectares | 40.30 million hectares | 41.58 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.15 million hectares | 40.99 million hectares | 41.37 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.71 million hectares | 38.09 million hectares | 40.97 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.10 million hectares | 37.28 million hectares | 38.69 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.25 million hectares | 38.15 million hectares | 38.35 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More agriculture & rural data for Canada
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 31.61 % change on previous year (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0193 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,092 current US$ per person (2022)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.0803 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1712 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.9% (2022)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.9% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arable land in Canada?
- Arable land in Canada was 38.15 million hectares 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 arable land recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 41.58 million hectares in 1986.
- What is the lowest arable land recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.61 million hectares in 1961.
- How does Canada rank for arable land?
- Canada ranks 7th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is arable land rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada 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 Arable land (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Arable land (in hectares) 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.