Land used for agriculture in Namibia
Namibia: Land used for agriculture was 26.70 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Land used for agriculture in Namibia, 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 Namibia is 26.70 million, measured in 2010.
The figure is down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land used for agriculture in Namibia peaked at 37.26 million in 1960 and was at its lowest, 5.49 million, in 1780.
Namibia ranks 34th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land used for agriculture in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 5.49 million | — |
| 1790 | 6.04 million | +10.1% |
| 1800 | 6.66 million | +10.2% |
| 1810 | 7.34 million | +10.2% |
| 1820 | 8.09 million | +10.2% |
| 1830 | 8.92 million | +10.2% |
| 1840 | 9.83 million | +10.2% |
| 1850 | 10.84 million | +10.3% |
| 1860 | 11.96 million | +10.3% |
| 1870 | 13.19 million | +10.3% |
| 1880 | 14.56 million | +10.4% |
| 1890 | 16.07 million | +10.3% |
| 1900 | 17.74 million | +10.4% |
| 1910 | 19.58 million | +10.4% |
| 1920 | 21.62 million | +10.4% |
| 1930 | 23.88 million | +10.4% |
| 1940 | 26.35 million | +10.4% |
| 1950 | 29.11 million | +10.5% |
| 1960 | 37.26 million | +28.0% |
| 1970 | 36.24 million | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 35.12 million | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 34.03 million | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 28.35 million | -16.7% |
| 2010 | 26.70 million | -5.8% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 26.70 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.14 million, 3.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 26.70 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.08 million, 2.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land used for agriculture in Namibia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +28.0% | 29.11 million | 37.26 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 5.49 million | 5.49 million | 5.49 million | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.04 million | 6.04 million | 6.04 million | 1 |
| 1800s | 6.66 million | 6.66 million | 6.66 million | 1 |
| 1810s | 7.34 million | 7.34 million | 7.34 million | 1 |
| 1820s | 8.09 million | 8.09 million | 8.09 million | 1 |
| 1830s | 8.92 million | 8.92 million | 8.92 million | 1 |
| 1840s | 9.83 million | 9.83 million | 9.83 million | 1 |
| 1850s | 10.84 million | 10.84 million | 10.84 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 11.96 million | 11.96 million | 11.96 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 13.19 million | 13.19 million | 13.19 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 14.56 million | 14.56 million | 14.56 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 16.07 million | 16.07 million | 16.07 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 17.74 million | 17.74 million | 17.74 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 19.58 million | 19.58 million | 19.58 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 21.62 million | 21.62 million | 21.62 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 23.88 million | 23.88 million | 23.88 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 26.35 million | 26.35 million | 26.35 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 29.11 million | 29.11 million | 29.11 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 37.26 million | 37.26 million | 37.26 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 36.24 million | 36.24 million | 36.24 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 35.12 million | 35.12 million | 35.12 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 34.03 million | 34.03 million | 34.03 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 28.35 million | 28.35 million | 28.35 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 26.70 million | 26.70 million | 26.70 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More agriculture & rural data for Namibia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0699 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 340.78 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4913 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 7.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 7.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land used for agriculture in Namibia?
- Land used for agriculture in Namibia was 26.70 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.26 million in 1960.
- What is the lowest land used for agriculture recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.49 million in 1780.
- How does Namibia rank for land used for agriculture?
- Namibia ranks 34th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is land used for agriculture rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.