Cropland area in United States
United States: Cropland area was 170.28 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2010)
170.28 million
World rank
1st
of 179 countries
All-time high
181.28 million
in 1950
All-time low
2.20 million
in 1780
Years of data
24
1780–2010
Cropland area in United States, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2010, cropland area in United States stood at 170.28 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in United States peaked at 181.28 million in 1950 and was at its lowest, 2.20 million, in 1780.
That places United States 1st out of 179 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland area in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 2.20 million | — |
| 1790 | 2.96 million | +34.5% |
| 1800 | 4.81 million | +62.6% |
| 1810 | 7.22 million | +50.0% |
| 1820 | 10.56 million | +46.3% |
| 1830 | 15.82 million | +49.8% |
| 1840 | 23.76 million | +50.2% |
| 1850 | 36.39 million | +53.1% |
| 1860 | 53.23 million | +46.3% |
| 1870 | 61.39 million | +15.3% |
| 1880 | 93.96 million | +53.0% |
| 1890 | 118.24 million | +25.8% |
| 1900 | 136.34 million | +15.3% |
| 1910 | 158.64 million | +16.4% |
| 1920 | 167.52 million | +5.6% |
| 1930 | 176.12 million | +5.1% |
| 1940 | 170.49 million | -3.2% |
| 1950 | 181.28 million | +6.3% |
| 1960 | 171.30 million | -5.5% |
| 1970 | 178.63 million | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 178.40 million | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 174.76 million | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 172.20 million | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 170.28 million | -1.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 170.28 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 787,708, 216.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 2.20 million | 2.20 million | 2.20 million | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.96 million | 2.96 million | 2.96 million | 1 |
| 1800s | 4.81 million | 4.81 million | 4.81 million | 1 |
| 1810s | 7.22 million | 7.22 million | 7.22 million | 1 |
| 1820s | 10.56 million | 10.56 million | 10.56 million | 1 |
| 1830s | 15.82 million | 15.82 million | 15.82 million | 1 |
| 1840s | 23.76 million | 23.76 million | 23.76 million | 1 |
| 1850s | 36.39 million | 36.39 million | 36.39 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 53.23 million | 53.23 million | 53.23 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 61.39 million | 61.39 million | 61.39 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 93.96 million | 93.96 million | 93.96 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 118.24 million | 118.24 million | 118.24 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 136.34 million | 136.34 million | 136.34 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 158.64 million | 158.64 million | 158.64 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 167.52 million | 167.52 million | 167.52 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 176.12 million | 176.12 million | 176.12 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 170.49 million | 170.49 million | 170.49 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 181.28 million | 181.28 million | 181.28 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 171.30 million | 171.30 million | 171.30 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 178.63 million | 178.63 million | 178.63 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 178.40 million | 178.40 million | 178.40 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 174.76 million | 174.76 million | 174.76 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 172.20 million | 172.20 million | 172.20 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 170.28 million | 170.28 million | 170.28 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More agriculture & rural data for United States
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.96 % change on previous year (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0094 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 673.66 current US$ per person (2021)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1831 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1981 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.9% (2021)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.9% (2021)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in United States?
- Cropland area in United States was 170.28 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 181.28 million in 1950.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.20 million in 1780.
- How does United States rank for cropland area?
- United States ranks 1st out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.