Land used for agriculture in India
India: Land used for agriculture was 171.91 million in 2010. ▲ Rising
Latest (2010)
171.91 million
World rank
7th
of 179 countries
All-time high
171.91 million
in 2010
All-time low
66.87 million
in 1780
Years of data
24
1780–2010
Land used for agriculture in India, 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 India is 171.91 million, measured in 2010. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land used for agriculture in India peaked at 171.91 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 66.87 million, in 1780.
India ranks 7th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Land used for agriculture in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 66.87 million | — |
| 1790 | 71.91 million | +7.5% |
| 1800 | 77.28 million | +7.5% |
| 1810 | 83.09 million | +7.5% |
| 1820 | 89.39 million | +7.6% |
| 1830 | 96.09 million | +7.5% |
| 1840 | 103.39 million | +7.6% |
| 1850 | 111.28 million | +7.6% |
| 1860 | 113.01 million | +1.6% |
| 1870 | 114.83 million | +1.6% |
| 1880 | 116.55 million | +1.5% |
| 1890 | 118.64 million | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 120.42 million | +1.5% |
| 1910 | 121.72 million | +1.1% |
| 1920 | 123.48 million | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 129.94 million | +5.2% |
| 1940 | 136.91 million | +5.4% |
| 1950 | 144.17 million | +5.3% |
| 1960 | 168.69 million | +17.0% |
| 1970 | 170.03 million | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 171.00 million | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 171.56 million | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 171.12 million | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 171.91 million | +0.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 171.91 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.14 million, 24.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 171.91 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 3.80 million, 45.3× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 66.87 million | 66.87 million | 66.87 million | 1 |
| 1790s | 71.91 million | 71.91 million | 71.91 million | 1 |
| 1800s | 77.28 million | 77.28 million | 77.28 million | 1 |
| 1810s | 83.09 million | 83.09 million | 83.09 million | 1 |
| 1820s | 89.39 million | 89.39 million | 89.39 million | 1 |
| 1830s | 96.09 million | 96.09 million | 96.09 million | 1 |
| 1840s | 103.39 million | 103.39 million | 103.39 million | 1 |
| 1850s | 111.28 million | 111.28 million | 111.28 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 113.01 million | 113.01 million | 113.01 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 114.83 million | 114.83 million | 114.83 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 116.55 million | 116.55 million | 116.55 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 118.64 million | 118.64 million | 118.64 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 120.42 million | 120.42 million | 120.42 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 121.72 million | 121.72 million | 121.72 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 123.48 million | 123.48 million | 123.48 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 129.94 million | 129.94 million | 129.94 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 136.91 million | 136.91 million | 136.91 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 144.17 million | 144.17 million | 144.17 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 168.69 million | 168.69 million | 168.69 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 170.03 million | 170.03 million | 170.03 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 171.00 million | 171.00 million | 171.00 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 171.56 million | 171.56 million | 171.56 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 171.12 million | 171.12 million | 171.12 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 171.91 million | 171.91 million | 171.91 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More agriculture & rural data for India
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1623 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 438.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4067 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6431 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land used for agriculture in India?
- Land used for agriculture in India was 171.91 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 171.91 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest land used for agriculture recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.87 million in 1780.
- How does India rank for land used for agriculture?
- India ranks 7th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is land used for agriculture rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.