Arable land in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Arable land was 7.2% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Arable land in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1961–2023
Source: FAO electronic files and website, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arable land in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 7.2%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arable land in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 7.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1961.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 42nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Arable land in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.9% | — |
| 1962 | 6.9% | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 7.0% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 7.0% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 7.1% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 7.1% | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 7.1% | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 7.1% | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 7.0% | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 7.0% | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 7.1% | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 7.1% | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 7.3% | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 7.2% | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 7.2% | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 7.1% | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 7.1% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 7.1% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 7.2% | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 7.1% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 7.1% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 7.3% | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 7.1% | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 7.2% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 7.2% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 7.2% | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 7.3% | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 7.2% | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 7.3% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 7.2% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 7.4% | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 7.5% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 7.5% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 7.5% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 7.5% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 7.5% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 7.3% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 7.4% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 7.3% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 7.3% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 7.1% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 7.1% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 7.1% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 7.2% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 7.2% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 7.1% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 7.1% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 7.3% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 7.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 7.3% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 7.2% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 7.1% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 7.2% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.0% | 6.9% | 7.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 7.1% | 7.0% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.2% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.5% | 7.2% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.3% | 7.1% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.2% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- 39 Azerbaijan 25.3% compare
- 40 United Kingdom 25.0% compare
- 41 Guinea 24.4% compare
- 42 Syria 24.0% compare
- 43 Italy 24.0% compare
- 44 Luxembourg 23.8% compare
- 45 Cambodia 23.3% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Rural population, per capita 0.4404 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 6.8% (2025)
- Rural population 364.70 million (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.2% (2025)
- Rural population 44.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.2% (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 420.06 current US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0677 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is arable land in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Arable land in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 7.2% in 2023, according to FAO electronic files and website, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest arable land recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1961.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for arable land?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is arable land rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and website, 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 (% of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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 market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.