Arable land in Iran
Iran: Arable land was 15.70 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
15.70 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
21st
of 206 countries
All-time high
17.39 million hectares
in 1995
All-time low
12.98 million hectares
in 1980
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Arable land in Iran, 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
The most recent figure for arable land in Iran is 15.70 million hectares, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arable land in Iran peaked at 17.39 million hectares in 1995 and was at its lowest, 12.98 million hectares, in 1980.
Iran ranks 21st of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Arable land in Iran, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 14.98 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 14.99 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 15.00 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 15.01 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 15.02 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 15.03 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 15.05 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1968 | 15.10 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 15.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 15.15 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 15.58 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 16.23 million hectares | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 16.90 million hectares | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 16.37 million hectares | -3.1% |
| 1975 | 15.85 million hectares | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 15.33 million hectares | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 14.97 million hectares | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 14.19 million hectares | -5.2% |
| 1979 | 15.19 million hectares | +7.1% |
| 1980 | 12.98 million hectares | -14.6% |
| 1981 | 13.55 million hectares | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 14.14 million hectares | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 14.40 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 14.65 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 14.90 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 15.15 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 15.40 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 15.58 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 15.40 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 15.19 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 16.68 million hectares | +9.8% |
| 1992 | 16.97 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 17.33 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 17.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 17.39 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 17.10 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 16.50 million hectares | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 16.84 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 16.34 million hectares | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 14.92 million hectares | -8.6% |
| 2001 | 15.86 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 16.03 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 16.20 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 16.36 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 16.53 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 16.70 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 16.87 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 15.54 million hectares | -7.8% |
| 2009 | 15.57 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 15.39 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 15.21 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 15.04 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 14.69 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 14.69 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 14.69 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 14.69 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 15.13 million hectares | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 15.58 million hectares | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 15.62 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 15.66 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 15.70 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 15.70 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 15.70 million hectares | +0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 15.70 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.03 million hectares, 15.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iran's 15.70 million hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.16 million hectares, 13.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.03 million hectares | 14.98 million hectares | 15.12 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 15.58 million hectares | 14.19 million hectares | 16.90 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.62 million hectares | 12.98 million hectares | 15.58 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.77 million hectares | 15.19 million hectares | 17.39 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.06 million hectares | 14.92 million hectares | 16.87 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.07 million hectares | 14.69 million hectares | 15.62 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.69 million hectares | 15.66 million hectares | 15.70 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More agriculture & rural data for Iran
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -25.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1059 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 415.77 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6359 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2262 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 10.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 10.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 3.0% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arable land in Iran?
- Arable land in Iran was 15.70 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 17.39 million hectares in 1995.
- What is the lowest arable land recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.98 million hectares in 1980.
- How does Iran rank for arable land?
- Iran ranks 21st out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is arable land rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iran 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.