Cropland extent over the long-term in South Africa
South Africa: Cropland extent over the long-term was 12.41 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
12.41 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
27th
of 202 countries
All-time high
14.20 million hectares
in 2000
All-time low
11,990 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland extent over the long-term in South Africa, 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 South Africa stood at 12.41 million hectares.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland extent over the long-term in South Africa peaked at 14.20 million hectares in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11,990 hectares, in 1000.
South Africa ranks 27th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland extent over the long-term in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 11,990 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 17,985 hectares | +50.0% |
| 1200 | 26,228 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1300 | 37,469 hectares | +42.9% |
| 1400 | 52,690 hectares | +40.6% |
| 1500 | 73,181 hectares | +38.9% |
| 1600 | 106,722 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1700 | 190,575 hectares | +78.6% |
| 1710 | 233,719 hectares | +22.6% |
| 1720 | 286,523 hectares | +22.6% |
| 1730 | 351,122 hectares | +22.5% |
| 1740 | 430,113 hectares | +22.5% |
| 1750 | 526,653 hectares | +22.4% |
| 1760 | 515,666 hectares | -2.1% |
| 1770 | 504,679 hectares | -2.1% |
| 1780 | 493,691 hectares | -2.2% |
| 1790 | 482,704 hectares | -2.2% |
| 1800 | 471,717 hectares | -2.3% |
| 1810 | 460,729 hectares | -2.3% |
| 1820 | 449,742 hectares | -2.4% |
| 1830 | 438,754 hectares | -2.4% |
| 1840 | 427,767 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1850 | 503,525 hectares | +17.7% |
| 1860 | 620,789 hectares | +23.3% |
| 1870 | 823,404 hectares | +32.6% |
| 1880 | 1.63 million hectares | +97.9% |
| 1890 | 2.00 million hectares | +22.7% |
| 1900 | 2.79 million hectares | +39.5% |
| 1910 | 3.74 million hectares | +34.2% |
| 1920 | 4.63 million hectares | +23.7% |
| 1930 | 5.77 million hectares | +24.5% |
| 1940 | 6.99 million hectares | +21.3% |
| 1950 | 9.22 million hectares | +31.8% |
| 1951 | 9.44 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 9.70 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 9.96 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 10.23 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 10.49 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1956 | 10.75 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1957 | 11.02 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 11.28 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1959 | 11.54 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 11.81 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 12.19 million hectares | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 12.23 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 12.29 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 12.35 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 12.42 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 12.45 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 12.47 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 12.49 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 12.49 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 12.51 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 12.53 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 12.54 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 12.56 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 12.56 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 12.58 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 12.59 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 12.62 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 12.63 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 12.63 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 12.64 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 12.90 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 12.85 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 12.90 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 13.00 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 13.10 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 13.21 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 13.47 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 13.74 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 13.77 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 13.82 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 13.99 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 14.04 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 14.06 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 14.13 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 14.20 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 14.09 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 14.10 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 14.00 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 13.68 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 13.55 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 12.96 million hectares | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 12.96 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 13.18 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 13.06 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 12.96 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 12.45 million hectares | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 12.41 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12.41 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.01 million hectares, 6.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12.41 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.31 million hectares, 3.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland extent over the long-term in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | +97.9% | 823,404 hectares | 1.63 million hectares |
| 1700 | +78.6% | 106,722 hectares | 190,575 hectares |
| 1100 | +50.0% | 11,990 hectares | 17,985 hectares |
| 1200 | +45.8% | 17,985 hectares | 26,228 hectares |
| 1600 | +45.8% | 73,181 hectares | 106,722 hectares |
| 1300 | +42.9% | 26,228 hectares | 37,469 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 11,990 hectares | 11,990 hectares | 11,990 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 17,985 hectares | 17,985 hectares | 17,985 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 26,228 hectares | 26,228 hectares | 26,228 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 37,469 hectares | 37,469 hectares | 37,469 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 52,690 hectares | 52,690 hectares | 52,690 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 73,181 hectares | 73,181 hectares | 73,181 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 106,722 hectares | 106,722 hectares | 106,722 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 190,575 hectares | 190,575 hectares | 190,575 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 233,719 hectares | 233,719 hectares | 233,719 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 286,523 hectares | 286,523 hectares | 286,523 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 351,122 hectares | 351,122 hectares | 351,122 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 430,113 hectares | 430,113 hectares | 430,113 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 526,653 hectares | 526,653 hectares | 526,653 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 515,666 hectares | 515,666 hectares | 515,666 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 504,679 hectares | 504,679 hectares | 504,679 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 493,691 hectares | 493,691 hectares | 493,691 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 482,704 hectares | 482,704 hectares | 482,704 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 471,717 hectares | 471,717 hectares | 471,717 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 460,729 hectares | 460,729 hectares | 460,729 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 449,742 hectares | 449,742 hectares | 449,742 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 438,754 hectares | 438,754 hectares | 438,754 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 427,767 hectares | 427,767 hectares | 427,767 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 503,525 hectares | 503,525 hectares | 503,525 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 620,789 hectares | 620,789 hectares | 620,789 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 823,404 hectares | 823,404 hectares | 823,404 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.63 million hectares | 1.63 million hectares | 1.63 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.00 million hectares | 2.00 million hectares | 2.00 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.79 million hectares | 2.79 million hectares | 2.79 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.74 million hectares | 3.74 million hectares | 3.74 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 4.63 million hectares | 4.63 million hectares | 4.63 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 5.77 million hectares | 5.77 million hectares | 5.77 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 6.99 million hectares | 6.99 million hectares | 6.99 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 10.36 million hectares | 9.22 million hectares | 11.54 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.31 million hectares | 11.81 million hectares | 12.49 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.56 million hectares | 12.49 million hectares | 12.63 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.75 million hectares | 12.63 million hectares | 13.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.73 million hectares | 13.10 million hectares | 14.13 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.58 million hectares | 12.96 million hectares | 14.20 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.47 million hectares | 12.41 million hectares | 12.96 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.41 million hectares | 12.41 million hectares | 12.41 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % 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 0.1917 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % 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 1.49 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland extent over the long-term in South Africa?
- Cropland extent over the long-term in South Africa was 12.41 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.20 million hectares in 2000.
- What is the lowest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,990 hectares in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for cropland extent over the long-term?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland extent over the long-term rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 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.