Cropland extent over the long-term in Australia
Australia: Cropland extent over the long-term was 32.01 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
32.01 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
11th
of 202 countries
All-time high
32.31 million hectares
in 2014
All-time low
0 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland extent over the long-term in Australia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, cropland extent over the long-term in Australia stood at 32.01 million hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland extent over the long-term in Australia peaked at 32.31 million hectares in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 1000.
That places Australia 11th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland extent over the long-term in Australia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1200 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1300 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1400 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1500 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1600 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1700 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1710 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1720 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1730 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1740 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1750 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1760 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1770 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1780 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1790 | 8,932 hectares | — |
| 1800 | 17,139 hectares | +91.9% |
| 1810 | 24,813 hectares | +44.8% |
| 1820 | 33,584 hectares | +35.4% |
| 1830 | 47,887 hectares | +42.6% |
| 1840 | 79,875 hectares | +66.8% |
| 1850 | 200,844 hectares | +151.4% |
| 1860 | 475,313 hectares | +136.7% |
| 1870 | 874,214 hectares | +83.9% |
| 1880 | 1.83 million hectares | +109.5% |
| 1890 | 2.17 million hectares | +18.6% |
| 1900 | 3.47 million hectares | +59.6% |
| 1910 | 4.37 million hectares | +26.2% |
| 1920 | 4.74 million hectares | +8.4% |
| 1930 | 10.69 million hectares | +125.6% |
| 1940 | 10.55 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1950 | 10.48 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1951 | 10.85 million hectares | +3.5% |
| 1952 | 11.22 million hectares | +3.4% |
| 1953 | 11.59 million hectares | +3.3% |
| 1954 | 11.96 million hectares | +3.2% |
| 1955 | 12.33 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 12.70 million hectares | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 13.07 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 13.44 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 13.81 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 14.18 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 14.55 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 15.69 million hectares | +7.9% |
| 1963 | 15.56 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1964 | 16.48 million hectares | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 17.51 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 18.97 million hectares | +8.3% |
| 1967 | 19.46 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 21.60 million hectares | +11.0% |
| 1969 | 19.82 million hectares | -8.2% |
| 1970 | 18.68 million hectares | -5.8% |
| 1971 | 17.05 million hectares | -8.7% |
| 1972 | 17.23 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 15.10 million hectares | -12.4% |
| 1974 | 14.96 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 13.75 million hectares | -8.1% |
| 1976 | 14.64 million hectares | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 15.01 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 16.80 million hectares | +11.9% |
| 1979 | 17.44 million hectares | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 17.95 million hectares | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 18.40 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 19.61 million hectares | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 19.42 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 21.91 million hectares | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 21.14 million hectares | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 20.85 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 19.77 million hectares | -5.2% |
| 1988 | 18.36 million hectares | -7.1% |
| 1989 | 17.70 million hectares | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 17.14 million hectares | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 17.38 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 16.40 million hectares | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 17.30 million hectares | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 18.04 million hectares | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 17.04 million hectares | -5.6% |
| 1996 | 19.41 million hectares | +13.9% |
| 1997 | 21.13 million hectares | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 21.59 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 23.26 million hectares | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 23.77 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 24.52 million hectares | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 24.06 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 23.57 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 26.08 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 2005 | 26.74 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 24.57 million hectares | -8.1% |
| 2007 | 23.53 million hectares | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 24.37 million hectares | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 27.51 million hectares | +12.9% |
| 2010 | 25.97 million hectares | -5.6% |
| 2011 | 32.08 million hectares | +23.5% |
| 2012 | 31.99 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 31.61 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 32.31 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 31.40 million hectares | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 30.38 million hectares | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 31.07 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 31.31 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 30.92 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 31.00 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 31.65 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 31.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 31.73 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 31.87 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 32.01 million hectares | +0.4% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 32.01 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 666,510 hectares, 48.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Australia's 32.01 million hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.22 million hectares, 26.3× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland extent over the long-term in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | +151.4% | 79,875 hectares | 200,844 hectares |
| 1860 | +136.7% | 200,844 hectares | 475,313 hectares |
| 1930 | +125.6% | 4.74 million hectares | 10.69 million hectares |
| 1880 | +109.5% | 874,214 hectares | 1.83 million hectares |
| 1800 | +91.9% | 8,932 hectares | 17,139 hectares |
| 1870 | +83.9% | 475,313 hectares | 874,214 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 8,932 hectares | 8,932 hectares | 8,932 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 17,139 hectares | 17,139 hectares | 17,139 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 24,813 hectares | 24,813 hectares | 24,813 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 33,584 hectares | 33,584 hectares | 33,584 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 47,887 hectares | 47,887 hectares | 47,887 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 79,875 hectares | 79,875 hectares | 79,875 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 200,844 hectares | 200,844 hectares | 200,844 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 475,313 hectares | 475,313 hectares | 475,313 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 874,214 hectares | 874,214 hectares | 874,214 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.83 million hectares | 1.83 million hectares | 1.83 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.17 million hectares | 2.17 million hectares | 2.17 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 3.47 million hectares | 3.47 million hectares | 3.47 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 4.37 million hectares | 4.37 million hectares | 4.37 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 4.74 million hectares | 4.74 million hectares | 4.74 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 10.69 million hectares | 10.69 million hectares | 10.69 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 10.55 million hectares | 10.55 million hectares | 10.55 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 12.15 million hectares | 10.48 million hectares | 13.81 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.38 million hectares | 14.18 million hectares | 21.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.07 million hectares | 13.75 million hectares | 18.68 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.51 million hectares | 17.70 million hectares | 21.91 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.87 million hectares | 16.40 million hectares | 23.26 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.87 million hectares | 23.53 million hectares | 27.51 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.90 million hectares | 25.97 million hectares | 32.31 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.65 million hectares | 31.00 million hectares | 32.01 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More agriculture & rural data for Australia
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.4449 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 1.16 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.2372 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 12.7 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0227 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,476 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5855 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland extent over the long-term in Australia?
- Cropland extent over the long-term in Australia was 32.01 million hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.31 million hectares in 2014.
- What is the lowest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 1000.
- How does Australia rank for cropland extent over the long-term?
- Australia ranks 11th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland extent over the long-term rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland extent 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 each separate country over time.