Arable land in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Arable land was 1.58 million hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Arable land in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone is 1.58 million hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arable land in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.69 million hectares in 2006 and was at its lowest, 355,000 hectares, in 1961.
That places Sierra Leone 89th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arable land in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 355,000 hectares | — |
| 1962 | 360,000 hectares | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 365,000 hectares | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 370,000 hectares | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 375,000 hectares | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 380,000 hectares | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 385,000 hectares | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 390,000 hectares | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 395,000 hectares | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 400,000 hectares | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 405,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 410,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 415,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 420,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 425,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 430,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 435,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 440,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 445,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 450,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 455,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 460,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 465,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 470,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 475,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 480,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 485,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 486,000 hectares | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 486,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 486,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 486,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 486,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 486,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 485,000 hectares | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 485,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 485,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 484,000 hectares | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 484,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 484,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 490,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 681,520 hectares | +39.1% |
| 2002 | 910,080 hectares | +33.5% |
| 2003 | 1.24 million hectares | +35.9% |
| 2004 | 1.44 million hectares | +16.3% |
| 2005 | 1.47 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 1.69 million hectares | +14.8% |
| 2007 | 1.28 million hectares | -24.0% |
| 2008 | 1.37 million hectares | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 1.46 million hectares | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 1.58 million hectares | +8.2% |
| 2011 | 1.65 million hectares | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 1.47 million hectares | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 1.58 million hectares | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.58 million hectares | +0.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 1.58 million hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.00 million hectares, 53% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 1.58 million hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.83 million hectares, 56% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arable land in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +39.1% | 490,000 hectares | 681,520 hectares |
| 2003 | +35.9% | 910,080 hectares | 1.24 million hectares |
| 2002 | +33.5% | 681,520 hectares | 910,080 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 375,000 hectares | 355,000 hectares | 395,000 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 422,500 hectares | 400,000 hectares | 445,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 471,200 hectares | 450,000 hectares | 486,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 485,100 hectares | 484,000 hectares | 486,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.20 million hectares | 490,000 hectares | 1.69 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.58 million hectares | 1.47 million hectares | 1.65 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.58 million hectares | 1.58 million hectares | 1.58 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 86 Central African Republic 1.80 million hectares compare
- 87 Libya 1.72 million hectares compare
- 88 Turkmenistan 1.59 million hectares compare
- 90 Guatemala 1.55 million hectares compare
- 91 Nicaragua 1.50 million hectares compare
- 92 South Korea 1.46 million hectares compare
More agriculture & rural data for Sierra Leone
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2954 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 250 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5407 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 29.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 29.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.4% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arable land in Sierra Leone?
- Arable land in Sierra Leone was 1.58 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.69 million hectares in 2006.
- What is the lowest arable land recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 355,000 hectares in 1961.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for arable land?
- Sierra Leone ranks 89th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is arable land rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.
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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.