Cropland area in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Cropland area was 3.64 million hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
3.64 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
69th
of 224 countries
All-time high
3.81 million hectares
in 1999
All-time low
1.17 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Cropland area in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia is 3.64 million hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in Saudi Arabia peaked at 3.81 million hectares in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1.17 million hectares, in 1961.
Saudi Arabia ranks 69th of 224 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Cropland area in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.17 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 1.19 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 1.21 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 1.24 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 1.26 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 1.28 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 1.30 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 1.34 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 1.38 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 1.42 million hectares | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 1.47 million hectares | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 1.52 million hectares | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 1.57 million hectares | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 1.64 million hectares | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 1.68 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 1.75 million hectares | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 1.80 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 1.86 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 1.91 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 1.96 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 2.01 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 2.07 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 2.27 million hectares | +9.8% |
| 1984 | 2.42 million hectares | +6.7% |
| 1985 | 2.62 million hectares | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 2.78 million hectares | +5.9% |
| 1987 | 2.98 million hectares | +7.2% |
| 1988 | 3.13 million hectares | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 3.29 million hectares | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 3.48 million hectares | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 3.67 million hectares | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 3.75 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 3.79 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 3.78 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 3.78 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 3.78 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 3.78 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 3.77 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 3.81 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 3.80 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 3.79 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 3.78 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 3.78 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 3.78 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.78 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 3.78 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 3.77 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 3.77 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 3.76 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 3.74 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 3.73 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 3.72 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 3.71 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 3.62 million hectares | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 3.61 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 3.61 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 3.61 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.61 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 3.62 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 3.64 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 3.64 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.64 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.64 million hectares | +0.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.64 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 303,040 hectares, 12.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.64 million hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.45 million hectares, 2.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.26 million hectares | 1.17 million hectares | 1.38 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.66 million hectares | 1.42 million hectares | 1.91 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.55 million hectares | 1.96 million hectares | 3.29 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.74 million hectares | 3.48 million hectares | 3.81 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.78 million hectares | 3.76 million hectares | 3.80 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.66 million hectares | 3.61 million hectares | 3.74 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.64 million hectares | 3.64 million hectares | 3.64 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1539 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in Saudi Arabia?
- Cropland area in Saudi Arabia was 3.64 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.81 million hectares in 1999.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.17 million hectares in 1961.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for cropland area?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 69th out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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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