Cropland area in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Cropland area was 12.79 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2010)
12.79 million
World rank
20th
of 179 countries
All-time high
12.79 million
in 2010
All-time low
1.25 million
in 1780
Years of data
24
1780–2010
Cropland area in Ethiopia, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2010, cropland area in Ethiopia stood at 12.79 million. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in Ethiopia peaked at 12.79 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.25 million, in 1780.
Ethiopia ranks 20th of 179 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 area in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 1.25 million | — |
| 1790 | 1.27 million | +2.1% |
| 1800 | 1.30 million | +2.1% |
| 1810 | 1.33 million | +2.1% |
| 1820 | 1.35 million | +2.1% |
| 1830 | 1.89 million | +39.8% |
| 1840 | 2.43 million | +28.6% |
| 1850 | 2.98 million | +22.3% |
| 1860 | 3.52 million | +18.3% |
| 1870 | 4.07 million | +15.5% |
| 1880 | 4.61 million | +13.4% |
| 1890 | 5.16 million | +11.9% |
| 1900 | 5.71 million | +10.6% |
| 1910 | 6.26 million | +9.6% |
| 1920 | 6.81 million | +8.8% |
| 1930 | 7.35 million | +8.0% |
| 1940 | 7.91 million | +7.6% |
| 1950 | 8.44 million | +6.7% |
| 1960 | 10.44 million | +23.8% |
| 1970 | 10.31 million | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 10.72 million | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 9.00 million | -16.0% |
| 2000 | 10.91 million | +21.2% |
| 2010 | 12.79 million | +17.3% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 12.79 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.53 million, 5.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 12.79 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.24 million, 5.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 1.25 million | 1.25 million | 1.25 million | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.27 million | 1.27 million | 1.27 million | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.30 million | 1.30 million | 1.30 million | 1 |
| 1810s | 1.33 million | 1.33 million | 1.33 million | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.35 million | 1.35 million | 1.35 million | 1 |
| 1830s | 1.89 million | 1.89 million | 1.89 million | 1 |
| 1840s | 2.43 million | 2.43 million | 2.43 million | 1 |
| 1850s | 2.98 million | 2.98 million | 2.98 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 3.52 million | 3.52 million | 3.52 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 4.07 million | 4.07 million | 4.07 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 4.61 million | 4.61 million | 4.61 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 5.16 million | 5.16 million | 5.16 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 5.71 million | 5.71 million | 5.71 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 6.26 million | 6.26 million | 6.26 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 6.81 million | 6.81 million | 6.81 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 7.35 million | 7.35 million | 7.35 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 7.91 million | 7.91 million | 7.91 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 8.44 million | 8.44 million | 8.44 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 10.44 million | 10.44 million | 10.44 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 10.31 million | 10.31 million | 10.31 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 10.72 million | 10.72 million | 10.72 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 9.00 million | 9.00 million | 9.00 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.91 million | 10.91 million | 10.91 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.79 million | 12.79 million | 12.79 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More agriculture & rural data for Ethiopia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -20.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3282 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 306.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7589 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 32.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 32.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.7% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in Ethiopia?
- Cropland area in Ethiopia was 12.79 million in 2010, according to Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland area recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.79 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.25 million in 1780.
- How does Ethiopia rank for cropland area?
- Ethiopia ranks 20th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cropland is land used to grow crops, excluding pasture used for livestock grazing.