Cropland area in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Cropland area was 8.12 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
8.12 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
42nd
of 224 countries
All-time high
8.12 million hectares
in 2023
All-time low
7.75 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Cropland area in Afghanistan, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 8.12 million hectares for cropland area in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in Afghanistan peaked at 8.12 million hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.75 million hectares, in 1961.
That places Afghanistan 42nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Cropland area in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7.75 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 7.80 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 7.85 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 7.96 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 7.98 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 7.98 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 8.00 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 8.01 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 8.04 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 8.05 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 8.05 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 8.04 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 8.04 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 8.04 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 8.04 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 8.03 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 8.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 7.93 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 7.81 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 7.76 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 7.76 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 7.79 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 7.87 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 7.76 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 7.79 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 7.79 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7.79 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 7.88 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 7.93 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 7.92 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 7.91 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 7.92 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7.92 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 7.92 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 7.92 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 7.91 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 7.91 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8.01 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 8.01 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.12 million hectares | +0.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 8.12 million hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.60 million hectares, 2.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 8.12 million hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.45 million hectares, 5.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.90 million hectares | 7.75 million hectares | 8.00 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 8.04 million hectares | 8.01 million hectares | 8.05 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.05 million hectares | 8.04 million hectares | 8.05 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.88 million hectares | 7.76 million hectares | 8.04 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.88 million hectares | 7.79 million hectares | 7.93 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.93 million hectares | 7.91 million hectares | 8.01 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.07 million hectares | 8.05 million hectares | 8.12 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More agriculture & rural data for Afghanistan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3429 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 142.96 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0018 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7406 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 34.3% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 34.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 21.0% (2019)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.8% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in Afghanistan?
- Cropland area in Afghanistan was 8.12 million hectares in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland area recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.12 million hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.75 million hectares in 1961.
- How does Afghanistan rank for cropland area?
- Afghanistan ranks 42nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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