Cropland area in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Cropland area was 1.16 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Cropland area in Sri Lanka, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2010, cropland area in Sri Lanka stood at 1.16 million.
The figure is down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in Sri Lanka peaked at 1.25 million in 1970 and was at its lowest, 61,745, in 1820.
That places Sri Lanka 96th out of 179 countries with data for 2010, 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 area in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 64,930 | — |
| 1790 | 64,072 | -1.3% |
| 1800 | 63,337 | -1.1% |
| 1810 | 62,510 | -1.3% |
| 1820 | 61,745 | -1.2% |
| 1830 | 70,717 | +14.5% |
| 1840 | 86,149 | +21.8% |
| 1850 | 269,962 | +213.4% |
| 1860 | 304,900 | +12.9% |
| 1870 | 347,634 | +14.0% |
| 1880 | 400,249 | +15.1% |
| 1890 | 459,553 | +14.8% |
| 1900 | 531,032 | +15.6% |
| 1910 | 618,756 | +16.5% |
| 1920 | 701,705 | +13.4% |
| 1930 | 738,882 | +5.3% |
| 1940 | 811,334 | +9.8% |
| 1950 | 882,352 | +8.8% |
| 1960 | 985,288 | +11.7% |
| 1970 | 1.25 million | +26.6% |
| 1980 | 1.19 million | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 1.22 million | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 1.20 million | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 1.16 million | -3.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.16 million is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.99 million, 58% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.16 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.58 million, 45% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland area 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 | +213.4% | 86,149 | 269,962 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 64,930 | 64,930 | 64,930 | 1 |
| 1790s | 64,072 | 64,072 | 64,072 | 1 |
| 1800s | 63,337 | 63,337 | 63,337 | 1 |
| 1810s | 62,510 | 62,510 | 62,510 | 1 |
| 1820s | 61,745 | 61,745 | 61,745 | 1 |
| 1830s | 70,717 | 70,717 | 70,717 | 1 |
| 1840s | 86,149 | 86,149 | 86,149 | 1 |
| 1850s | 269,962 | 269,962 | 269,962 | 1 |
| 1860s | 304,900 | 304,900 | 304,900 | 1 |
| 1870s | 347,634 | 347,634 | 347,634 | 1 |
| 1880s | 400,249 | 400,249 | 400,249 | 1 |
| 1890s | 459,553 | 459,553 | 459,553 | 1 |
| 1900s | 531,032 | 531,032 | 531,032 | 1 |
| 1910s | 618,756 | 618,756 | 618,756 | 1 |
| 1920s | 701,705 | 701,705 | 701,705 | 1 |
| 1930s | 738,882 | 738,882 | 738,882 | 1 |
| 1940s | 811,334 | 811,334 | 811,334 | 1 |
| 1950s | 882,352 | 882,352 | 882,352 | 1 |
| 1960s | 985,288 | 985,288 | 985,288 | 1 |
| 1970s | 1.25 million | 1.25 million | 1.25 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 1.19 million | 1.19 million | 1.19 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.22 million | 1.22 million | 1.22 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.20 million | 1.20 million | 1.20 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.16 million | 1.16 million | 1.16 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 93 Kyrgyzstan 1.26 million compare
- 94 Burundi 1.24 million compare
- 95 Tajikistan 1.18 million compare
- 97 Nicaragua 1.13 million compare
- 98 South Korea 1.12 million compare
- 99 Lithuania 1.12 million compare
More agriculture & rural data for Sri Lanka
- 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)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7955 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 8.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 8.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in Sri Lanka?
- Cropland area in Sri Lanka was 1.16 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 million in 1970.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 61,745 in 1820.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for cropland area?
- Sri Lanka ranks 96th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.