Land used for agriculture in Canada
Canada: Land used for agriculture was 59.86 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2010)
59.86 million
World rank
15th
of 179 countries
All-time high
61.94 million
in 1960
All-time low
11,346
in 1780
Years of data
24
1780–2010
Land used for agriculture in Canada, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2010, land used for agriculture in Canada stood at 59.86 million.
The figure is up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land used for agriculture in Canada peaked at 61.94 million in 1960 and was at its lowest, 11,346, in 1780.
Canada ranks 15th 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 11,346 | — |
| 1790 | 15,657 | +38.0% |
| 1800 | 33,746 | +115.5% |
| 1810 | 128,716 | +281.4% |
| 1820 | 127,485 | -1.0% |
| 1830 | 276,097 | +116.6% |
| 1840 | 587,626 | +112.8% |
| 1850 | 1.78 million | +203.5% |
| 1860 | 4.01 million | +124.8% |
| 1870 | 9.89 million | +146.8% |
| 1880 | 12.81 million | +29.5% |
| 1890 | 17.14 million | +33.8% |
| 1900 | 29.10 million | +69.8% |
| 1910 | 31.25 million | +7.4% |
| 1920 | 45.87 million | +46.8% |
| 1930 | 55.24 million | +20.4% |
| 1940 | 57.20 million | +3.6% |
| 1950 | 61.80 million | +8.0% |
| 1960 | 61.94 million | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 61.23 million | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 58.14 million | -5.0% |
| 1990 | 59.51 million | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 59.26 million | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 59.86 million | +1.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 59.86 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.44 million, 41.6× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 11,346 | 11,346 | 11,346 | 1 |
| 1790s | 15,657 | 15,657 | 15,657 | 1 |
| 1800s | 33,746 | 33,746 | 33,746 | 1 |
| 1810s | 128,716 | 128,716 | 128,716 | 1 |
| 1820s | 127,485 | 127,485 | 127,485 | 1 |
| 1830s | 276,097 | 276,097 | 276,097 | 1 |
| 1840s | 587,626 | 587,626 | 587,626 | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.78 million | 1.78 million | 1.78 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 4.01 million | 4.01 million | 4.01 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 9.89 million | 9.89 million | 9.89 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 12.81 million | 12.81 million | 12.81 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 17.14 million | 17.14 million | 17.14 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 29.10 million | 29.10 million | 29.10 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 31.25 million | 31.25 million | 31.25 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 45.87 million | 45.87 million | 45.87 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 55.24 million | 55.24 million | 55.24 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 57.20 million | 57.20 million | 57.20 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 61.80 million | 61.80 million | 61.80 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 61.94 million | 61.94 million | 61.94 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 61.23 million | 61.23 million | 61.23 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 58.14 million | 58.14 million | 58.14 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 59.51 million | 59.51 million | 59.51 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 59.26 million | 59.26 million | 59.26 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 59.86 million | 59.86 million | 59.86 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More agriculture & rural data for Canada
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 31.61 % change on previous year (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0193 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,092 current US$ per person (2022)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.0803 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1712 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.9% (2022)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.9% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land used for agriculture in Canada?
- Land used for agriculture in Canada was 59.86 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 61.94 million in 1960.
- What is the lowest land used for agriculture recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,346 in 1780.
- How does Canada rank for land used for agriculture?
- Canada ranks 15th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is land used for agriculture rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.