Cropland per person over the long-term in South Africa
South Africa: Cropland per person over the long-term was 0.2184 hectares per person in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
0.2184 hectares per person
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
69th
of 202 countries
All-time high
0.6771 hectares per person
in 1961
All-time low
0.0465 hectares per person
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland per person over the long-term in South Africa, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares per person.
Analysis
In 2025, cropland per person over the long-term in South Africa stood at 0.2184 hectares per person.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland per person over the long-term in South Africa peaked at 0.6771 hectares per person in 1961 and was at its lowest, 0.0465 hectares per person, in 1000.
South Africa ranks 69th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Cropland per person over the long-term in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0465 hectares per person | — |
| 1100 | 0.0581 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0726 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0908 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1135 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1500 | 0.1418 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1600 | 0.1773 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 0.2216 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1710 | 0.277 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1720 | 0.3462 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1730 | 0.4328 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1740 | 0.541 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1750 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1760 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.6763 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.6771 hectares per person | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 0.6602 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 0.6447 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1964 | 0.6298 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1965 | 0.6159 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 0.6006 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 0.5865 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1968 | 0.5729 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 0.5599 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 0.5471 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 0.5318 hectares per person | -2.8% |
| 1972 | 0.5172 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 0.5034 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 0.4903 hectares per person | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 0.4778 hectares per person | -2.6% |
| 1976 | 0.466 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 0.4547 hectares per person | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 0.4446 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 1979 | 0.4344 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1980 | 0.4246 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 0.4139 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 0.4038 hectares per person | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 0.3939 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 0.3845 hectares per person | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 0.3755 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 0.374 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 0.3642 hectares per person | -2.6% |
| 1988 | 0.3576 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 0.3527 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 0.348 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 0.3435 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 0.3423 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 0.3409 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 0.3339 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 0.3284 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 0.3261 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 0.3219 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 0.3169 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 0.3136 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 0.3105 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 0.3105 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.3067 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 0.3006 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 0.2899 hectares per person | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 0.2836 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 0.2685 hectares per person | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 0.266 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 0.2679 hectares per person | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 0.263 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 0.2586 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 0.2459 hectares per person | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 0.243 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 0.2408 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 0.2386 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 0.2365 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 0.2344 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 0.2324 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 0.2304 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 0.2284 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 0.2265 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 0.2248 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 0.2232 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 0.2216 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 0.22 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 0.2184 hectares per person | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0465 hectares per person | 0.0465 hectares per person | 0.0465 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0581 hectares per person | 0.0581 hectares per person | 0.0581 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0726 hectares per person | 0.0726 hectares per person | 0.0726 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0908 hectares per person | 0.0908 hectares per person | 0.0908 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1135 hectares per person | 0.1135 hectares per person | 0.1135 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1418 hectares per person | 0.1418 hectares per person | 0.1418 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.1773 hectares per person | 0.1773 hectares per person | 0.1773 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.2216 hectares per person | 0.2216 hectares per person | 0.2216 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.277 hectares per person | 0.277 hectares per person | 0.277 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.3462 hectares per person | 0.3462 hectares per person | 0.3462 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.4328 hectares per person | 0.4328 hectares per person | 0.4328 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.541 hectares per person | 0.541 hectares per person | 0.541 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1860s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1870s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1930s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1940s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1950s | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 0.6763 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.6224 hectares per person | 0.5599 hectares per person | 0.6771 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4867 hectares per person | 0.4344 hectares per person | 0.5471 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3845 hectares per person | 0.3527 hectares per person | 0.4246 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3315 hectares per person | 0.3136 hectares per person | 0.348 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2867 hectares per person | 0.263 hectares per person | 0.3105 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2389 hectares per person | 0.2284 hectares per person | 0.2586 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2224 hectares per person | 0.2184 hectares per person | 0.2265 hectares per person | 6 |
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 per person over the long-term in South Africa?
- Cropland per person over the long-term in South Africa was 0.2184 hectares per person in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland per person over the long-term recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6771 hectares per person in 1961.
- What is the lowest cropland per person over the long-term recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0465 hectares per person in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for cropland per person over the long-term?
- South Africa ranks 69th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland per person over the long-term rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland per person over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total cropland area for per person each separate country over time.