Land use agriculture longterm in South Africa

South Africa: Land use agriculture longterm was 78.69 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2010)
78.69 million
World rank
12th
of 178 countries
All-time high
90.05 million
in 1960
All-time low
1.25 million
in 1850
Years of data
24
1780–2010

Land use agriculture longterm in South Africa, 1780–2010

020.0M40.0M60.0M80.0M100.0M1780189520101780: 1.4M1790: 1.4M1800: 1.4M1810: 1.4M1820: 1.3M1830: 1.3M1840: 1.3M1850: 1.3M1860: 2.9M1870: 4.6M1880: 9.1M1890: 11.7M1900: 17.0M1910: 23.8M1920: 30.8M1930: 39.8M1940: 50.7M1950: 69.5M1960: 90.1M1970: 83.7M1980: 81.6M1990: 82.9M2000: 80.4M2010: 78.7M

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for land use agriculture longterm in South Africa is 78.69 million, measured in 2010.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, land use agriculture longterm in South Africa peaked at 90.05 million in 1960 and was at its lowest, 1.25 million, in 1850.

South Africa ranks 12th of 178 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 use agriculture longterm in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Land use agriculture longterm in South Africa, 1780 to 2010.
Year Value Change
1780 1.40 million
1790 1.40 million -0.5%
1800 1.38 million -0.9%
1810 1.37 million -1.3%
1820 1.35 million -1.4%
1830 1.32 million -1.9%
1840 1.29 million -2.4%
1850 1.25 million -3.0%
1860 2.86 million +128.7%
1870 4.61 million +61.1%
1880 9.09 million +97.4%
1890 11.67 million +28.4%
1900 16.95 million +45.3%
1910 23.80 million +40.4%
1920 30.75 million +29.2%
1930 39.83 million +29.5%
1940 50.68 million +27.2%
1950 69.49 million +37.1%
1960 90.05 million +29.6%
1970 83.68 million -7.1%
1980 81.58 million -2.5%
1990 82.89 million +1.6%
2000 80.43 million -3.0%
2010 78.69 million -2.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1780s 1.40 million 1.40 million 1.40 million 1
1790s 1.40 million 1.40 million 1.40 million 1
1800s 1.38 million 1.38 million 1.38 million 1
1810s 1.37 million 1.37 million 1.37 million 1
1820s 1.35 million 1.35 million 1.35 million 1
1830s 1.32 million 1.32 million 1.32 million 1
1840s 1.29 million 1.29 million 1.29 million 1
1850s 1.25 million 1.25 million 1.25 million 1
1860s 2.86 million 2.86 million 2.86 million 1
1870s 4.61 million 4.61 million 4.61 million 1
1880s 9.09 million 9.09 million 9.09 million 1
1890s 11.67 million 11.67 million 11.67 million 1
1900s 16.95 million 16.95 million 16.95 million 1
1910s 23.80 million 23.80 million 23.80 million 1
1920s 30.75 million 30.75 million 30.75 million 1
1930s 39.83 million 39.83 million 39.83 million 1
1940s 50.68 million 50.68 million 50.68 million 1
1950s 69.49 million 69.49 million 69.49 million 1
1960s 90.05 million 90.05 million 90.05 million 1
1970s 83.68 million 83.68 million 83.68 million 1
1980s 81.58 million 81.58 million 81.58 million 1
1990s 82.89 million 82.89 million 82.89 million 1
2000s 80.43 million 80.43 million 80.43 million 1
2010s 78.69 million 78.69 million 78.69 million 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 9 Saudi Arabia 110.02 million compare
  2. 10 Mongolia 103.89 million compare
  3. 11 Mexico 89.60 million compare
  4. 13 Sudan 73.62 million compare
  5. 14 Nigeria 66.12 million compare
  6. 15 Canada 59.86 million compare

See the full ranking of 179 places →

More agriculture & rural data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is land use agriculture longterm in South Africa?
Land use agriculture longterm in South Africa was 78.69 million in 2010, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest land use agriculture longterm recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 90.05 million in 1960.
What is the lowest land use agriculture longterm recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.25 million in 1850.
How does South Africa rank for land use agriculture longterm?
South Africa ranks 12th out of 178 countries with data for 2010.
Is land use agriculture longterm rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Land use agriculture longterm. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Land use agriculture longterm in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/land-use-agriculture-longterm/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Land use agriculture longterm
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
179 places, 4,296 data points, 1780–2010
Last refreshed