Land used for agriculture in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Land used for agriculture was 11.99 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Land used for agriculture in Zimbabwe, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2010, land used for agriculture in Zimbabwe stood at 11.99 million. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land used for agriculture in Zimbabwe peaked at 11.99 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.90 million, in 1780.
Zimbabwe ranks 57th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land used for agriculture in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 1.90 million | — |
| 1790 | 2.04 million | +7.8% |
| 1800 | 2.20 million | +7.9% |
| 1810 | 2.38 million | +8.0% |
| 1820 | 2.57 million | +8.1% |
| 1830 | 2.79 million | +8.2% |
| 1840 | 3.02 million | +8.6% |
| 1850 | 3.29 million | +8.7% |
| 1860 | 3.58 million | +8.9% |
| 1870 | 3.89 million | +8.9% |
| 1880 | 4.25 million | +9.1% |
| 1890 | 4.64 million | +9.1% |
| 1900 | 5.07 million | +9.3% |
| 1910 | 5.56 million | +9.6% |
| 1920 | 6.10 million | +9.7% |
| 1930 | 6.71 million | +10.0% |
| 1940 | 7.32 million | +9.2% |
| 1950 | 8.04 million | +9.8% |
| 1960 | 10.63 million | +32.2% |
| 1970 | 10.57 million | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 10.98 million | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 11.59 million | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 11.44 million | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 11.99 million | +4.7% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 11.99 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.14 million, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 11.99 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.08 million, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land used for agriculture in Zimbabwe 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 | +32.2% | 8.04 million | 10.63 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 1.90 million | 1.90 million | 1.90 million | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.04 million | 2.04 million | 2.04 million | 1 |
| 1800s | 2.20 million | 2.20 million | 2.20 million | 1 |
| 1810s | 2.38 million | 2.38 million | 2.38 million | 1 |
| 1820s | 2.57 million | 2.57 million | 2.57 million | 1 |
| 1830s | 2.79 million | 2.79 million | 2.79 million | 1 |
| 1840s | 3.02 million | 3.02 million | 3.02 million | 1 |
| 1850s | 3.29 million | 3.29 million | 3.29 million | 1 |
| 1860s | 3.58 million | 3.58 million | 3.58 million | 1 |
| 1870s | 3.89 million | 3.89 million | 3.89 million | 1 |
| 1880s | 4.25 million | 4.25 million | 4.25 million | 1 |
| 1890s | 4.64 million | 4.64 million | 4.64 million | 1 |
| 1900s | 5.07 million | 5.07 million | 5.07 million | 1 |
| 1910s | 5.56 million | 5.56 million | 5.56 million | 1 |
| 1920s | 6.10 million | 6.10 million | 6.10 million | 1 |
| 1930s | 6.71 million | 6.71 million | 6.71 million | 1 |
| 1940s | 7.32 million | 7.32 million | 7.32 million | 1 |
| 1950s | 8.04 million | 8.04 million | 8.04 million | 1 |
| 1960s | 10.63 million | 10.63 million | 10.63 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 10.57 million | 10.57 million | 10.57 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 10.98 million | 10.98 million | 10.98 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 11.59 million | 11.59 million | 11.59 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 11.44 million | 11.44 million | 11.44 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 11.99 million | 11.99 million | 11.99 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More agriculture & rural data for Zimbabwe
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 34.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0947 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 286.19 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.8815 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.595 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 9.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 9.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land used for agriculture in Zimbabwe?
- Land used for agriculture in Zimbabwe was 11.99 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 11.99 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest land used for agriculture recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.90 million in 1780.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for land used for agriculture?
- Zimbabwe ranks 57th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is land used for agriculture rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.