Cropland extent over the long-term in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Cropland extent over the long-term was 2.37 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.37 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
83rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
2.37 million hectares
in 2025
All-time low
190,529 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland extent over the long-term in Sri Lanka, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 2.37 million hectares for cropland extent over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland extent over the long-term in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.37 million hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 190,529 hectares, in 1000.
That places Sri Lanka 83rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland extent over the long-term in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 190,529 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 208,844 hectares | +9.6% |
| 1200 | 225,597 hectares | +8.0% |
| 1300 | 212,191 hectares | -5.9% |
| 1400 | 196,651 hectares | -7.3% |
| 1500 | 203,609 hectares | +3.5% |
| 1600 | 243,887 hectares | +19.8% |
| 1700 | 278,695 hectares | +14.3% |
| 1710 | 278,737 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1720 | 271,802 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1730 | 265,015 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1740 | 258,374 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1750 | 251,875 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1760 | 245,516 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1770 | 239,293 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1780 | 233,203 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1790 | 227,243 hectares | -2.6% |
| 1800 | 221,411 hectares | -2.6% |
| 1810 | 215,703 hectares | -2.6% |
| 1820 | 210,116 hectares | -2.6% |
| 1830 | 230,201 hectares | +9.6% |
| 1840 | 319,248 hectares | +38.7% |
| 1850 | 443,400 hectares | +38.9% |
| 1860 | 573,111 hectares | +29.3% |
| 1870 | 642,479 hectares | +12.1% |
| 1880 | 640,583 hectares | -0.3% |
| 1890 | 692,833 hectares | +8.2% |
| 1900 | 820,563 hectares | +18.4% |
| 1910 | 907,222 hectares | +10.6% |
| 1920 | 982,823 hectares | +8.3% |
| 1930 | 1.03 million hectares | +5.0% |
| 1940 | 1.09 million hectares | +5.8% |
| 1950 | 1.35 million hectares | +23.9% |
| 1951 | 1.36 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 1.38 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 1.39 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 1.41 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 1.43 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 1.45 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 1.47 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 1.49 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 1.51 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1960 | 1.54 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 1.54 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 1.52 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 1.88 million hectares | +23.2% |
| 1964 | 1.87 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 1.88 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 1.88 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 1.88 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.88 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 1.89 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 1.89 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 1.90 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 1.92 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 1.92 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 1.96 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 1.99 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 2.03 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 1.92 million hectares | -5.4% |
| 1980 | 1.91 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.86 million hectares | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 1.87 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 1.87 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 1.88 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 1.89 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 1.90 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 1.90 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 1.90 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 1.90 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 1.90 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 1.88 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 1.88 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 1.89 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 1.89 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 1.89 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 1.89 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 1.92 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 1.93 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 1.87 million hectares | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 2.07 million hectares | +10.7% |
| 2006 | 2.00 million hectares | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 1.95 million hectares | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 2.15 million hectares | +10.5% |
| 2009 | 2.17 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 2.18 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 2.29 million hectares | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 2.30 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 2.30 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.30 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.30 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.31 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 2.32 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 2.37 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 2.37 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.37 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.37 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.37 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.37 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.37 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2.37 million hectares | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.37 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.01 million hectares, 1.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2.37 million hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.37 million hectares, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland extent over the long-term in Sri Lanka 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 | +38.9% | 319,248 hectares | 443,400 hectares |
| 1840 | +38.7% | 230,201 hectares | 319,248 hectares |
| 1860 | +29.3% | 443,400 hectares | 573,111 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 190,529 hectares | 190,529 hectares | 190,529 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 208,844 hectares | 208,844 hectares | 208,844 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 225,597 hectares | 225,597 hectares | 225,597 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 212,191 hectares | 212,191 hectares | 212,191 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 196,651 hectares | 196,651 hectares | 196,651 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 203,609 hectares | 203,609 hectares | 203,609 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 243,887 hectares | 243,887 hectares | 243,887 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 278,695 hectares | 278,695 hectares | 278,695 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 278,737 hectares | 278,737 hectares | 278,737 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 271,802 hectares | 271,802 hectares | 271,802 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 265,015 hectares | 265,015 hectares | 265,015 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 258,374 hectares | 258,374 hectares | 258,374 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 251,875 hectares | 251,875 hectares | 251,875 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 245,516 hectares | 245,516 hectares | 245,516 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 239,293 hectares | 239,293 hectares | 239,293 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 233,203 hectares | 233,203 hectares | 233,203 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 227,243 hectares | 227,243 hectares | 227,243 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 221,411 hectares | 221,411 hectares | 221,411 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 215,703 hectares | 215,703 hectares | 215,703 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 210,116 hectares | 210,116 hectares | 210,116 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 230,201 hectares | 230,201 hectares | 230,201 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 319,248 hectares | 319,248 hectares | 319,248 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 443,400 hectares | 443,400 hectares | 443,400 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 573,111 hectares | 573,111 hectares | 573,111 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 642,479 hectares | 642,479 hectares | 642,479 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 640,583 hectares | 640,583 hectares | 640,583 hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 692,833 hectares | 692,833 hectares | 692,833 hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 820,563 hectares | 820,563 hectares | 820,563 hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 907,222 hectares | 907,222 hectares | 907,222 hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 982,823 hectares | 982,823 hectares | 982,823 hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 1.03 million hectares | 1.03 million hectares | 1.03 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 1.09 million hectares | 1.09 million hectares | 1.09 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 1.43 million hectares | 1.35 million hectares | 1.51 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.77 million hectares | 1.52 million hectares | 1.89 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.94 million hectares | 1.89 million hectares | 2.03 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.89 million hectares | 1.86 million hectares | 1.91 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.89 million hectares | 1.88 million hectares | 1.91 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.99 million hectares | 1.87 million hectares | 2.17 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.30 million hectares | 2.18 million hectares | 2.37 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.37 million hectares | 2.37 million hectares | 2.37 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More agriculture & rural data for Sri Lanka
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0051 % 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 0.109 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0043 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.1293 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0836 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 418.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9172 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland extent over the long-term in Sri Lanka?
- Cropland extent over the long-term in Sri Lanka was 2.37 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.37 million hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 190,529 hectares in 1000.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for cropland extent over the long-term?
- Sri Lanka ranks 83rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland extent over the long-term rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.