Cropland area in India
India: Cropland area was 168.32 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
168.32 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
2nd
of 224 countries
All-time high
170.32 million hectares
in 1994
All-time low
160.99 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Cropland area in India, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cropland area in India is 168.32 million hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in India peaked at 170.32 million hectares in 1994 and was at its lowest, 160.99 million hectares, in 1961.
That places India 2nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Cropland area in India, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 160.99 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 162.40 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 162.05 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 162.12 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 162.43 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 162.72 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 163.79 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 164.57 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 164.48 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 165.06 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 164.56 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 164.99 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 166.04 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 166.50 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 166.84 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 167.06 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 167.06 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 168.24 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 168.44 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 168.15 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 168.41 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 168.75 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 168.53 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 169.42 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 169.34 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 169.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 169.71 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 169.37 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 169.98 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 170.11 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 170.18 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 170.01 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 170.29 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 170.32 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 169.91 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 169.53 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 170.10 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 170.03 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 170.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 170.13 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 169.82 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 170.03 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 169.80 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 169.89 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 169.67 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 169.46 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 169.20 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 169.40 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 169.72 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 169.23 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 169.37 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 169.35 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 169.44 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 169.46 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 169.41 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 169.32 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 168.90 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 168.78 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 168.67 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 168.05 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 168.14 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 168.23 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 168.32 million hectares | +0.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 168.32 million hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.82 million hectares, 59.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 168.32 million hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.26 million hectares, 74.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 162.84 million hectares | 160.99 million hectares | 164.57 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 166.48 million hectares | 164.56 million hectares | 168.44 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 169.11 million hectares | 168.15 million hectares | 169.98 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 170.06 million hectares | 169.53 million hectares | 170.32 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 169.71 million hectares | 169.20 million hectares | 170.13 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 169.19 million hectares | 168.67 million hectares | 169.46 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 168.19 million hectares | 168.05 million hectares | 168.32 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More agriculture & rural data for India
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1623 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 438.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4067 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6431 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in India?
- Cropland area in India was 168.32 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 170.32 million hectares in 1994.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 160.99 million hectares in 1961.
- How does India rank for cropland area?
- India ranks 2nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this India 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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