Land used for agriculture in Botswana
Botswana: Land used for agriculture was 18.85 million in 2010. ▲ Rising
Latest (2010)
18.85 million
World rank
45th
of 179 countries
All-time high
23.00 million
in 1960
All-time low
6.37 million
in 1780
Years of data
24
1780–2010
Land used for agriculture in Botswana, 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 Botswana is 18.85 million, measured in 2010.
The figure is down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land used for agriculture in Botswana peaked at 23.00 million in 1960 and was at its lowest, 6.37 million, in 1780.
Botswana ranks 45th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Land used for agriculture in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 6.37 million | — |
| 1790 | 6.78 million | +6.4% |
| 1800 | 7.21 million | +6.4% |
| 1810 | 7.68 million | +6.5% |
| 1820 | 8.17 million | +6.5% |
| 1830 | 8.70 million | +6.5% |
| 1840 | 9.27 million | +6.5% |
| 1850 | 9.88 million | +6.5% |
| 1860 | 10.55 million | +6.8% |
| 1870 | 11.27 million | +6.8% |
| 1880 | 12.07 million | +7.1% |
| 1890 | 12.91 million | +6.9% |
| 1900 | 13.84 million | +7.2% |
| 1910 | 14.86 million | +7.4% |
| 1920 | 15.97 million | +7.5% |
| 1930 | 17.16 million | +7.4% |
| 1940 | 18.55 million | +8.1% |
| 1950 | 20.27 million | +9.3% |
| 1960 | 23.00 million | +13.5% |
| 1970 | 21.41 million | -6.9% |
| 1980 | 21.35 million | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 19.01 million | -11.0% |
| 2000 | 18.90 million | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 18.85 million | -0.3% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 18.85 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.58 million, 4.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 18.85 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.08 million, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 6.37 million | 6.37 million | 6.37 million | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.78 million | 6.78 million | 6.78 million | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.21 million | 7.21 million | 7.21 million | 1 |
| 1810s | 7.68 million | 7.68 million | 7.68 million | 1 |
| 1820s | 8.17 million | 8.17 million | 8.17 million | 1 |
| 1830s | 8.70 million | 8.70 million | 8.70 million | 1 |
| 1840s | 9.27 million | 9.27 million | 9.27 million | 1 |
| 1850s | 9.88 million | 9.88 million | 9.88 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 10.55 million | 10.55 million | 10.55 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 11.27 million | 11.27 million | 11.27 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 12.07 million | 12.07 million | 12.07 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 12.91 million | 12.91 million | 12.91 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 13.84 million | 13.84 million | 13.84 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 14.86 million | 14.86 million | 14.86 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 15.97 million | 15.97 million | 15.97 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 17.16 million | 17.16 million | 17.16 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 18.55 million | 18.55 million | 18.55 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 20.27 million | 20.27 million | 20.27 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 23.00 million | 23.00 million | 23.00 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 21.41 million | 21.41 million | 21.41 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 21.35 million | 21.35 million | 21.35 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 19.01 million | 19.01 million | 19.01 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 18.90 million | 18.90 million | 18.90 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 18.85 million | 18.85 million | 18.85 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More agriculture & rural data for Botswana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0178 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 138.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0839 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3204 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land used for agriculture in Botswana?
- Land used for agriculture in Botswana was 18.85 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 Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 23.00 million in 1960.
- What is the lowest land used for agriculture recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.37 million in 1780.
- How does Botswana rank for land used for agriculture?
- Botswana ranks 45th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is land used for agriculture rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana 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.