Cropland extent over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Cropland extent over the long-term was 17.77 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
17.77 million hectares
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
21st
of 202 countries
All-time high
17.77 million hectares
in 2025
All-time low
1.30 million hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland extent over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cropland extent over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo is 17.77 million hectares, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland extent over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 17.77 million hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.30 million hectares, in 1000.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 21st 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 Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 1.30 million hectares | — |
| 1100 | 1.52 million hectares | +16.7% |
| 1200 | 1.74 million hectares | +14.3% |
| 1300 | 1.96 million hectares | +12.5% |
| 1400 | 2.28 million hectares | +16.7% |
| 1500 | 2.61 million hectares | +14.3% |
| 1600 | 2.77 million hectares | +6.2% |
| 1700 | 2.93 million hectares | +5.9% |
| 1710 | 2.98 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1720 | 3.03 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1730 | 3.07 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1740 | 3.12 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1750 | 3.17 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1760 | 3.22 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1770 | 3.26 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1780 | 3.31 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1790 | 3.36 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1800 | 3.41 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1810 | 3.45 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1820 | 3.50 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1830 | 3.55 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1840 | 3.59 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 3.64 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1860 | 3.66 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1870 | 3.90 million hectares | +6.5% |
| 1880 | 4.21 million hectares | +7.9% |
| 1890 | 4.41 million hectares | +4.6% |
| 1900 | 4.18 million hectares | -5.0% |
| 1910 | 3.78 million hectares | -9.6% |
| 1920 | 3.57 million hectares | -5.7% |
| 1930 | 4.07 million hectares | +14.0% |
| 1940 | 4.59 million hectares | +12.9% |
| 1950 | 5.40 million hectares | +17.5% |
| 1951 | 5.50 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 5.62 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 5.73 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 5.86 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 5.99 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 6.12 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1957 | 6.27 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 6.43 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 6.59 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 6.75 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 6.95 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 6.97 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 7.00 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 7.03 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 7.05 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 7.07 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 7.10 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 7.15 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 7.20 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 7.25 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 7.30 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 7.35 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 7.40 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 7.45 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 7.45 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 7.50 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 7.53 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 7.55 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 7.55 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 7.60 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 7.65 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 7.67 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 7.70 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 7.75 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 7.80 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 7.85 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 7.85 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 7.85 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 7.85 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 7.86 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 7.88 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 7.90 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 7.90 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 7.90 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 7.70 million hectares | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 7.70 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 7.60 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 7.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 7.50 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 7.50 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 7.45 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 7.45 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 7.45 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 7.45 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 7.45 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7.45 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 7.45 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 7.50 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 8.69 million hectares | +15.8% |
| 2010 | 10.23 million hectares | +17.8% |
| 2011 | 11.44 million hectares | +11.8% |
| 2012 | 12.69 million hectares | +10.9% |
| 2013 | 13.23 million hectares | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 14.05 million hectares | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 14.25 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 14.47 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 15.08 million hectares | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 15.34 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 15.53 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 15.70 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 16.11 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 16.97 million hectares | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 17.05 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 17.41 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 17.77 million hectares | +2.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 17.77 million hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.98 million hectares, 4.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 17.77 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.31 million hectares, 5.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 1.30 million hectares | 1.30 million hectares | 1.30 million hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 1.52 million hectares | 1.52 million hectares | 1.52 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 1.74 million hectares | 1.74 million hectares | 1.74 million hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.96 million hectares | 1.96 million hectares | 1.96 million hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 2.28 million hectares | 2.28 million hectares | 2.28 million hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.61 million hectares | 2.61 million hectares | 2.61 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.77 million hectares | 2.77 million hectares | 2.77 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.93 million hectares | 2.93 million hectares | 2.93 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.98 million hectares | 2.98 million hectares | 2.98 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 3.03 million hectares | 3.03 million hectares | 3.03 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.07 million hectares | 3.07 million hectares | 3.07 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.12 million hectares | 3.12 million hectares | 3.12 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.17 million hectares | 3.17 million hectares | 3.17 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.22 million hectares | 3.22 million hectares | 3.22 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.26 million hectares | 3.26 million hectares | 3.26 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.31 million hectares | 3.31 million hectares | 3.31 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.36 million hectares | 3.36 million hectares | 3.36 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.41 million hectares | 3.41 million hectares | 3.41 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.45 million hectares | 3.45 million hectares | 3.45 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 3.50 million hectares | 3.50 million hectares | 3.50 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 3.55 million hectares | 3.55 million hectares | 3.55 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 3.59 million hectares | 3.59 million hectares | 3.59 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 3.64 million hectares | 3.64 million hectares | 3.64 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 3.66 million hectares | 3.66 million hectares | 3.66 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 3.90 million hectares | 3.90 million hectares | 3.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 4.21 million hectares | 4.21 million hectares | 4.21 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 4.41 million hectares | 4.41 million hectares | 4.41 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 4.18 million hectares | 4.18 million hectares | 4.18 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.78 million hectares | 3.78 million hectares | 3.78 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 3.57 million hectares | 3.57 million hectares | 3.57 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 4.07 million hectares | 4.07 million hectares | 4.07 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 4.59 million hectares | 4.59 million hectares | 4.59 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 5.95 million hectares | 5.40 million hectares | 6.59 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.03 million hectares | 6.75 million hectares | 7.20 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.43 million hectares | 7.25 million hectares | 7.55 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.76 million hectares | 7.60 million hectares | 7.85 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.75 million hectares | 7.50 million hectares | 7.90 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.58 million hectares | 7.45 million hectares | 8.69 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.63 million hectares | 10.23 million hectares | 15.53 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.83 million hectares | 15.70 million hectares | 17.77 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More agriculture & rural data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Rural population growth 2.5% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0893 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 8.13 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 8.9% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 72.04 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population 61.93 million (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 8.9% (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5489 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland extent over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Cropland extent over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo was 17.77 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 17.77 million hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.30 million hectares in 1000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for cropland extent over the long-term?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 21st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland extent over the long-term rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.
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About this data
Total cropland area for each separate country over time.