Statizoid

Cropland use over the long term in South Africa

South Africa: Cropland use over the long term was 12.41 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
12.41 million
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
27th
of 199 countries
All-time high
14.20 million
in 2000
All-time low
11,990
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025

Cropland use over the long term in South Africa, 1000–2025

05.0M10.0M15.0M100015122025

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, cropland use over the long term in South Africa stood at 12.41 million.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, cropland use over the long term in South Africa peaked at 14.20 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11,990, in 1000.

South Africa ranks 27th of 199 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 use over the long term in South Africa, year by year

Year Value Change
1000 11,990 —
1100 17,985 +50.0%
1200 26,228 +45.8%
1300 37,469 +42.9%
1400 52,690 +40.6%
1500 73,181 +38.9%
1600 106,722 +45.8%
1700 190,575 +78.6%
1710 233,719 +22.6%
1720 286,523 +22.6%
1730 351,122 +22.5%
1740 430,113 +22.5%
1750 526,653 +22.4%
1760 515,666 -2.1%
1770 504,679 -2.1%
1780 493,691 -2.2%
1790 482,704 -2.2%
1800 471,717 -2.3%
1810 460,729 -2.3%
1820 449,742 -2.4%
1830 438,754 -2.4%
1840 427,767 -2.5%
1850 503,525 +17.7%
1860 620,789 +23.3%
1870 823,404 +32.6%
1880 1.63 million +97.9%
1890 2.00 million +22.7%
1900 2.79 million +39.5%
1910 3.74 million +34.2%
1920 4.63 million +23.7%
1930 5.77 million +24.5%
1940 6.99 million +21.3%
1950 9.22 million +31.8%
1951 9.44 million +2.4%
1952 9.70 million +2.8%
1953 9.96 million +2.7%
1954 10.23 million +2.6%
1955 10.49 million +2.6%
1956 10.75 million +2.5%
1957 11.02 million +2.4%
1958 11.28 million +2.4%
1959 11.54 million +2.3%
1960 11.81 million +2.3%
1961 12.19 million +3.2%
1962 12.23 million +0.4%
1963 12.29 million +0.5%
1964 12.35 million +0.4%
1965 12.41 million +0.5%
1966 12.42 million +0.1%
1967 12.45 million +0.2%
1968 12.47 million +0.2%
1969 12.49 million +0.2%
1970 12.49 million +0.1%
1971 12.51 million +0.2%
1972 12.53 million +0.1%
1973 12.54 million +0.1%
1974 12.56 million +0.1%
1975 12.56 million +0.1%
1976 12.58 million +0.1%
1977 12.59 million +0.1%
1978 12.62 million +0.2%
1979 12.63 million +0.1%
1980 12.63 million +0.1%
1981 12.64 million +0.1%
1982 12.65 million +0.1%
1983 12.65 million +0.0%
1984 12.65 million +0.0%
1985 12.65 million +0.0%
1986 12.90 million +1.9%
1987 12.85 million -0.4%
1988 12.90 million +0.4%
1989 13.00 million +0.8%
1990 13.10 million +0.8%
1991 13.21 million +0.8%
1992 13.47 million +2.0%
1993 13.74 million +2.0%
1994 13.77 million +0.2%
1995 13.82 million +0.4%
1996 13.99 million +1.2%
1997 14.04 million +0.4%
1998 14.06 million +0.1%
1999 14.13 million +0.5%
2000 14.20 million +0.5%
2001 14.09 million -0.8%
2002 14.10 million +0.1%
2003 14.00 million -0.7%
2004 13.68 million -2.3%
2005 13.55 million -0.9%
2006 12.96 million -4.4%
2007 12.96 million +0.0%
2008 13.18 million +1.7%
2009 13.06 million -0.9%
2010 12.96 million -0.7%
2011 12.45 million -4.0%
2012 12.41 million -0.3%
2013 12.41 million +0.0%
2014 12.41 million +0.0%
2015 12.41 million +0.0%
2016 12.41 million +0.0%
2017 12.41 million +0.0%
2018 12.41 million +0.0%
2019 12.41 million +0.0%
2020 12.41 million +0.0%
2021 12.41 million +0.0%
2022 12.41 million +0.0%
2023 12.41 million +0.0%
2024 12.41 million +0.0%
2025 12.41 million +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1000s 11,990 11,990 11,990 1
1100s 17,985 17,985 17,985 1
1200s 26,228 26,228 26,228 1
1300s 37,469 37,469 37,469 1
1400s 52,690 52,690 52,690 1
1500s 73,181 73,181 73,181 1
1600s 106,722 106,722 106,722 1
1700s 190,575 190,575 190,575 1
1710s 233,719 233,719 233,719 1
1720s 286,523 286,523 286,523 1
1730s 351,122 351,122 351,122 1
1740s 430,113 430,113 430,113 1
1750s 526,653 526,653 526,653 1
1760s 515,666 515,666 515,666 1
1770s 504,679 504,679 504,679 1
1780s 493,691 493,691 493,691 1
1790s 482,704 482,704 482,704 1
1800s 471,717 471,717 471,717 1
1810s 460,729 460,729 460,729 1
1820s 449,742 449,742 449,742 1
1830s 438,754 438,754 438,754 1
1840s 427,767 427,767 427,767 1
1850s 503,525 503,525 503,525 1
1860s 620,789 620,789 620,789 1
1870s 823,404 823,404 823,404 1
1880s 1.63 million 1.63 million 1.63 million 1
1890s 2.00 million 2.00 million 2.00 million 1
1900s 2.79 million 2.79 million 2.79 million 1
1910s 3.74 million 3.74 million 3.74 million 1
1920s 4.63 million 4.63 million 4.63 million 1
1930s 5.77 million 5.77 million 5.77 million 1
1940s 6.99 million 6.99 million 6.99 million 1
1950s 10.36 million 9.22 million 11.54 million 10
1960s 12.31 million 11.81 million 12.49 million 10
1970s 12.56 million 12.49 million 12.63 million 10
1980s 12.75 million 12.63 million 13.00 million 10
1990s 13.73 million 13.10 million 14.13 million 10
2000s 13.58 million 12.96 million 14.20 million 10
2010s 12.47 million 12.41 million 12.96 million 10
2020s 12.41 million 12.41 million 12.41 million 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 24 Tanzania, United Republic of 15.92 million compare
  2. 25 Côte d'Ivoire 14.48 million compare
  3. 26 Myanmar 12.43 million compare
  4. 28 Viet Nam 11.83 million compare
  5. 29 Germany 11.79 million compare
  6. 30 Poland 11.67 million compare

See the full ranking of 202 places →

More agriculture & rural data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is cropland use over the long term in South Africa?
Cropland use over the long term in South Africa was 12.41 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest cropland use over the long term recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 14.20 million in 2000.
What is the lowest cropland use over the long term recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11,990 in 1000.
How does South Africa rank for cropland use over the long term?
South Africa ranks 27th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
Is cropland use 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland use over the long term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Cropland use over the long term in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/cropland-use-over-the-long-term/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Cropland use over the long term
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
202 places, 21,816 data points, 1000–2025
Last refreshed