Cropland area in Zambia
Zambia: Cropland area was 3.75 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2010)
3.75 million
World rank
54th
of 179 countries
All-time high
4.44 million
in 1960
All-time low
604,196
in 1780
Years of data
24
1780–2010
Cropland area in Zambia, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cropland area in Zambia is 3.75 million, measured in 2010.
That represents a change of up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in Zambia peaked at 4.44 million in 1960 and was at its lowest, 604,196, in 1780.
That places Zambia 54th 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 604,196 | — |
| 1790 | 618,381 | +2.3% |
| 1800 | 633,088 | +2.4% |
| 1810 | 647,964 | +2.3% |
| 1820 | 683,612 | +5.5% |
| 1830 | 720,595 | +5.4% |
| 1840 | 760,758 | +5.6% |
| 1850 | 803,142 | +5.6% |
| 1860 | 847,515 | +5.5% |
| 1870 | 942,164 | +11.2% |
| 1880 | 1.05 million | +11.2% |
| 1890 | 1.16 million | +11.2% |
| 1900 | 1.29 million | +11.1% |
| 1910 | 1.43 million | +10.9% |
| 1920 | 1.79 million | +24.8% |
| 1930 | 2.24 million | +25.1% |
| 1940 | 2.80 million | +25.1% |
| 1950 | 3.49 million | +24.4% |
| 1960 | 4.44 million | +27.4% |
| 1970 | 3.46 million | -22.0% |
| 1980 | 3.51 million | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 3.61 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 3.68 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 3.75 million | +2.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.75 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.80 million, 2.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.75 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.24 million, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 604,196 | 604,196 | 604,196 | 1 |
| 1790s | 618,381 | 618,381 | 618,381 | 1 |
| 1800s | 633,088 | 633,088 | 633,088 | 1 |
| 1810s | 647,964 | 647,964 | 647,964 | 1 |
| 1820s | 683,612 | 683,612 | 683,612 | 1 |
| 1830s | 720,595 | 720,595 | 720,595 | 1 |
| 1840s | 760,758 | 760,758 | 760,758 | 1 |
| 1850s | 803,142 | 803,142 | 803,142 | 1 |
| 1860s | 847,515 | 847,515 | 847,515 | 1 |
| 1870s | 942,164 | 942,164 | 942,164 | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.05 million | 1.05 million | 1.05 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.16 million | 1.16 million | 1.16 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.29 million | 1.29 million | 1.29 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.43 million | 1.43 million | 1.43 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.79 million | 1.79 million | 1.79 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 2.24 million | 2.24 million | 2.24 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 2.80 million | 2.80 million | 2.80 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 3.49 million | 3.49 million | 3.49 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 4.44 million | 4.44 million | 4.44 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 3.46 million | 3.46 million | 3.46 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 3.51 million | 3.51 million | 3.51 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.61 million | 3.61 million | 3.61 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.68 million | 3.68 million | 3.68 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 3.75 million | 3.75 million | 3.75 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 51 Philippines 4.16 million compare
- 52 Paraguay 3.99 million compare
- 53 Mozambique 3.78 million compare
- 55 United Kingdom 3.75 million compare
- 56 Tunisia 3.69 million compare
- 57 Senegal 3.62 million compare
More agriculture & rural data for Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5408 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland area in Zambia?
- Cropland area in Zambia was 3.75 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.44 million in 1960.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 604,196 in 1780.
- How does Zambia rank for cropland area?
- Zambia ranks 54th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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.