Cropland and pasture per person in South Africa
South Africa: Cropland and pasture per person was 0.2218 in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Cropland and pasture per person in South Africa, 1800–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2010, cropland and pasture per person in South Africa stood at 0.2218.
The figure is down 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland and pasture per person in South Africa peaked at 0.6443 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.0425, in 1850.
That places South Africa 57th out of 178 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland and pasture per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 0.0537 | — |
| 1810 | 0.0534 | -0.6% |
| 1820 | 0.0527 | -1.4% |
| 1830 | 0.0499 | -5.3% |
| 1840 | 0.0462 | -7.3% |
| 1850 | 0.0425 | -8.0% |
| 1860 | 0.084 | +97.6% |
| 1870 | 0.1231 | +46.5% |
| 1880 | 0.2136 | +73.5% |
| 1890 | 0.237 | +11.0% |
| 1900 | 0.2964 | +25.1% |
| 1910 | 0.3599 | +21.4% |
| 1920 | 0.3992 | +10.9% |
| 1930 | 0.4474 | +12.1% |
| 1940 | 0.49 | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 0.5807 | +18.5% |
| 1960 | 0.6443 | +11.0% |
| 1970 | 0.5097 | -20.9% |
| 1980 | 0.3922 | -23.1% |
| 1990 | 0.3267 | -16.7% |
| 2000 | 0.2493 | -23.7% |
| 2010 | 0.2218 | -11.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 0.0537 | 0.0537 | 0.0537 | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.0534 | 0.0534 | 0.0534 | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.0527 | 0.0527 | 0.0527 | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.0499 | 0.0499 | 0.0499 | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.0462 | 0.0462 | 0.0462 | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.0425 | 0.0425 | 0.0425 | 1 |
| 1860s | 0.084 | 0.084 | 0.084 | 1 |
| 1870s | 0.1231 | 0.1231 | 0.1231 | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.2136 | 0.2136 | 0.2136 | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.237 | 0.237 | 0.237 | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.2964 | 0.2964 | 0.2964 | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.3599 | 0.3599 | 0.3599 | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.3992 | 0.3992 | 0.3992 | 1 |
| 1930s | 0.4474 | 0.4474 | 0.4474 | 1 |
| 1940s | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.49 | 1 |
| 1950s | 0.5807 | 0.5807 | 0.5807 | 1 |
| 1960s | 0.6443 | 0.6443 | 0.6443 | 1 |
| 1970s | 0.5097 | 0.5097 | 0.5097 | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.3922 | 0.3922 | 0.3922 | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.3267 | 0.3267 | 0.3267 | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.2493 | 0.2493 | 0.2493 | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.2218 | 0.2218 | 0.2218 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland and pasture per person in South Africa?
- Cropland and pasture per person in South Africa was 0.2218 in 2010, according to Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland and pasture per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6443 in 1960.
- What is the lowest cropland and pasture per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0425 in 1850.
- How does South Africa rank for cropland and pasture per person?
- South Africa ranks 57th out of 178 countries with data for 2010.
- Is cropland and pasture per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland and pasture per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Pasture – land used for livestock grazing – and cropland are measured in hectares per person. The sum of pasture and cropland is the total land used for agriculture.