Cropland area in Kenya
Kenya: Cropland area was 5.67 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Cropland area in Kenya, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 5.67 million for cropland area in 2010. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in Kenya peaked at 5.67 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 826,163, in 1780.
Kenya ranks 41st 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 826,163 | — |
| 1790 | 870,902 | +5.4% |
| 1800 | 918,629 | +5.5% |
| 1810 | 968,385 | +5.4% |
| 1820 | 1.04 million | +7.1% |
| 1830 | 1.11 million | +7.2% |
| 1840 | 1.19 million | +7.2% |
| 1850 | 1.28 million | +7.2% |
| 1860 | 1.37 million | +7.1% |
| 1870 | 1.47 million | +7.4% |
| 1880 | 1.58 million | +7.4% |
| 1890 | 1.69 million | +7.4% |
| 1900 | 1.82 million | +7.4% |
| 1910 | 1.95 million | +7.3% |
| 1920 | 2.13 million | +9.3% |
| 1930 | 2.30 million | +8.0% |
| 1940 | 2.36 million | +2.6% |
| 1950 | 2.53 million | +7.1% |
| 1960 | 3.36 million | +33.0% |
| 1970 | 3.33 million | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 3.55 million | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 4.39 million | +23.7% |
| 2000 | 5.03 million | +14.5% |
| 2010 | 5.67 million | +12.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 5.67 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.80 million, 3.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 5.67 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.24 million, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland area in Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +33.0% | 2.53 million | 3.36 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 826,163 | 826,163 | 826,163 | 1 |
| 1790s | 870,902 | 870,902 | 870,902 | 1 |
| 1800s | 918,629 | 918,629 | 918,629 | 1 |
| 1810s | 968,385 | 968,385 | 968,385 | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.04 million | 1.04 million | 1.04 million | 1 |
| 1830s | 1.11 million | 1.11 million | 1.11 million | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.19 million | 1.19 million | 1.19 million | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.28 million | 1.28 million | 1.28 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.37 million | 1.37 million | 1.37 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.47 million | 1.47 million | 1.47 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.58 million | 1.58 million | 1.58 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.69 million | 1.69 million | 1.69 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.82 million | 1.82 million | 1.82 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.95 million | 1.95 million | 1.95 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 2.13 million | 2.13 million | 2.13 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 2.30 million | 2.30 million | 2.30 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 2.36 million | 2.36 million | 2.36 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 2.53 million | 2.53 million | 2.53 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 3.36 million | 3.36 million | 3.36 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 3.33 million | 3.33 million | 3.33 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 3.55 million | 3.55 million | 3.55 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.39 million | 4.39 million | 4.39 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 5.03 million | 5.03 million | 5.03 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 5.67 million | 5.67 million | 5.67 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More agriculture & rural data for Kenya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 16.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2316 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 547.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6779 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in Kenya?
- Cropland area in Kenya was 5.67 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 5.67 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 826,163 in 1780.
- How does Kenya rank for cropland area?
- Kenya ranks 41st out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.