Land used for agriculture in Australia
Australia: Land used for agriculture was 356.16 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Land used for agriculture in Australia, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for land used for agriculture in Australia is 356.16 million, measured in 2010.
That represents a change of down 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land used for agriculture in Australia peaked at 448.81 million in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1780.
Australia ranks 3rd of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land used for agriculture in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 0 | — |
| 1790 | 0 | — |
| 1800 | 0 | — |
| 1810 | 0 | — |
| 1820 | 4,359 | — |
| 1830 | 339,440 | +7687.5% |
| 1840 | 2.06 million | +506.9% |
| 1850 | 22.34 million | +984.3% |
| 1860 | 32.55 million | +45.7% |
| 1870 | 47.07 million | +44.6% |
| 1880 | 67.46 million | +43.3% |
| 1890 | 97.07 million | +43.9% |
| 1900 | 139.47 million | +43.7% |
| 1910 | 201.17 million | +44.2% |
| 1920 | 291.44 million | +44.9% |
| 1930 | 323.82 million | +11.1% |
| 1940 | 359.70 million | +11.1% |
| 1950 | 399.29 million | +11.0% |
| 1960 | 440.26 million | +10.3% |
| 1970 | 448.81 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 444.13 million | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 420.56 million | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 397.09 million | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 356.16 million | -10.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 356.16 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.44 million, 247.6× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Australia's 356.16 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.68 million, 212.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land used for agriculture in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | +7687.5% | 4,359 | 339,440 |
| 1850 | +984.3% | 2.06 million | 22.34 million |
| 1840 | +506.9% | 339,440 | 2.06 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1800s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1810s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1820s | 4,359 | 4,359 | 4,359 | 1 |
| 1830s | 339,440 | 339,440 | 339,440 | 1 |
| 1840s | 2.06 million | 2.06 million | 2.06 million | 1 |
| 1850s | 22.34 million | 22.34 million | 22.34 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 32.55 million | 32.55 million | 32.55 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 47.07 million | 47.07 million | 47.07 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 67.46 million | 67.46 million | 67.46 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 97.07 million | 97.07 million | 97.07 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 139.47 million | 139.47 million | 139.47 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 201.17 million | 201.17 million | 201.17 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 291.44 million | 291.44 million | 291.44 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 323.82 million | 323.82 million | 323.82 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 359.70 million | 359.70 million | 359.70 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 399.29 million | 399.29 million | 399.29 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 440.26 million | 440.26 million | 440.26 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 448.81 million | 448.81 million | 448.81 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 444.13 million | 444.13 million | 444.13 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 420.56 million | 420.56 million | 420.56 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 397.09 million | 397.09 million | 397.09 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 356.16 million | 356.16 million | 356.16 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 1 China 524.84 million compare
- 2 United States 381.41 million compare
- 4 Brazil 228.71 million compare
- 5 Kazakhstan 196.86 million compare
- 6 Russia 176.39 million compare
More agriculture & rural data for Australia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0227 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,476 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5855 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1228 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land used for agriculture in Australia?
- Land used for agriculture in Australia was 356.16 million in 2010, according to Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land used for agriculture recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 448.81 million in 1970.
- What is the lowest land used for agriculture recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1780.
- How does Australia rank for land used for agriculture?
- Australia ranks 3rd out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is land used for agriculture rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Land used for agriculture. 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
Agricultural land use is the sum of croplands and pasture – land used for grazing livestock. It is measured in hectares.