Cropland extent over the long-term in Nigeria
Nigeria: Cropland extent over the long-term was 46.03 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
46.03 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
8th
of 202 countries
All-time high
46.03 million hectares
in 2025
All-time low
4.13 million hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland extent over the long-term in Nigeria, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 46.03 million hectares for cropland extent over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland extent over the long-term in Nigeria peaked at 46.03 million hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.13 million hectares, in 1000.
That places Nigeria 8th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Cropland extent over the long-term in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 4.13 million hectares | — |
| 1100 | 4.42 million hectares | +7.1% |
| 1200 | 4.72 million hectares | +6.7% |
| 1300 | 5.31 million hectares | +12.5% |
| 1400 | 5.90 million hectares | +11.1% |
| 1500 | 6.49 million hectares | +10.0% |
| 1600 | 8.26 million hectares | +27.3% |
| 1700 | 10.62 million hectares | +28.6% |
| 1710 | 10.51 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1720 | 10.39 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1730 | 10.28 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1740 | 10.16 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1750 | 10.05 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1760 | 9.93 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1770 | 9.82 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1780 | 9.71 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1790 | 9.59 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1800 | 9.48 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1810 | 9.36 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1820 | 9.25 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1830 | 9.13 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1840 | 9.02 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1850 | 8.91 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1860 | 9.25 million hectares | +3.9% |
| 1870 | 9.65 million hectares | +4.3% |
| 1880 | 10.18 million hectares | +5.4% |
| 1890 | 10.84 million hectares | +6.5% |
| 1900 | 11.46 million hectares | +5.7% |
| 1910 | 12.55 million hectares | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 13.75 million hectares | +9.6% |
| 1930 | 16.11 million hectares | +17.1% |
| 1940 | 18.69 million hectares | +16.0% |
| 1950 | 22.34 million hectares | +19.5% |
| 1951 | 22.67 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 23.03 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 23.41 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 23.82 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 24.24 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 24.68 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 25.14 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 25.61 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1959 | 26.11 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 26.63 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 27.18 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 27.32 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 27.47 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 27.62 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1965 | 27.77 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 27.81 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 27.56 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1968 | 27.71 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 27.95 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 28.15 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 28.30 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 28.45 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 28.59 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 28.74 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 28.89 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 29.04 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 29.23 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 29.38 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 29.73 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 29.98 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 30.12 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 30.27 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 30.42 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 30.77 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 31.11 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 31.36 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 31.48 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 31.71 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 31.89 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 32.07 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 33.30 million hectares | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 34.50 million hectares | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 34.90 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 35.90 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 38.10 million hectares | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 38.30 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 38.50 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 39.35 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 40.50 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 40.80 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 41.55 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 41.69 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 41.80 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 41.91 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 42.10 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 41.84 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 42.04 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 42.16 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 43.38 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 42.46 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 42.40 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 42.54 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 42.25 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 42.28 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 42.37 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 42.46 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 42.61 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 43.08 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 43.49 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 43.84 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 44.58 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 44.64 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 45.19 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 45.61 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 46.03 million hectares | +0.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 46.03 million hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.01 million hectares, 15.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 46.03 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.31 million hectares, 13.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland extent over the long-term in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +28.6% | 8.26 million hectares | 10.62 million hectares |
| 1600 | +27.3% | 6.49 million hectares | 8.26 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 4.13 million hectares | 4.13 million hectares | 4.13 million hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 4.42 million hectares | 4.42 million hectares | 4.42 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 4.72 million hectares | 4.72 million hectares | 4.72 million hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 5.31 million hectares | 5.31 million hectares | 5.31 million hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 5.90 million hectares | 5.90 million hectares | 5.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 6.49 million hectares | 6.49 million hectares | 6.49 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 8.26 million hectares | 8.26 million hectares | 8.26 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 10.62 million hectares | 10.62 million hectares | 10.62 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 10.51 million hectares | 10.51 million hectares | 10.51 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 10.39 million hectares | 10.39 million hectares | 10.39 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 10.28 million hectares | 10.28 million hectares | 10.28 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 10.16 million hectares | 10.16 million hectares | 10.16 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 10.05 million hectares | 10.05 million hectares | 10.05 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 9.93 million hectares | 9.93 million hectares | 9.93 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 9.82 million hectares | 9.82 million hectares | 9.82 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 9.71 million hectares | 9.71 million hectares | 9.71 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 9.59 million hectares | 9.59 million hectares | 9.59 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 9.48 million hectares | 9.48 million hectares | 9.48 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 9.36 million hectares | 9.36 million hectares | 9.36 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 9.25 million hectares | 9.25 million hectares | 9.25 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 9.13 million hectares | 9.13 million hectares | 9.13 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 9.02 million hectares | 9.02 million hectares | 9.02 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.91 million hectares | 8.91 million hectares | 8.91 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.25 million hectares | 9.25 million hectares | 9.25 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 9.65 million hectares | 9.65 million hectares | 9.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 10.18 million hectares | 10.18 million hectares | 10.18 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 10.84 million hectares | 10.84 million hectares | 10.84 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 11.46 million hectares | 11.46 million hectares | 11.46 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 12.55 million hectares | 12.55 million hectares | 12.55 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 13.75 million hectares | 13.75 million hectares | 13.75 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 16.11 million hectares | 16.11 million hectares | 16.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 18.69 million hectares | 18.69 million hectares | 18.69 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 24.10 million hectares | 22.34 million hectares | 26.11 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 27.50 million hectares | 26.63 million hectares | 27.95 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 28.85 million hectares | 28.15 million hectares | 29.73 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.91 million hectares | 29.98 million hectares | 31.89 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.54 million hectares | 32.07 million hectares | 40.50 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.93 million hectares | 40.80 million hectares | 43.38 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.59 million hectares | 42.25 million hectares | 43.49 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.98 million hectares | 43.84 million hectares | 46.03 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.9222 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1938 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.5433 % 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 0.2993 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland extent over the long-term in Nigeria?
- Cropland extent over the long-term in Nigeria was 46.03 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 46.03 million hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.13 million hectares in 1000.
- How does Nigeria rank for cropland extent over the long-term?
- Nigeria ranks 8th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland extent over the long-term rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.