What is permanent cropland in Africa?

Permanent cropland in Africa was 29.07 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.

What is the highest permanent cropland recorded in Africa?

The highest recorded value was 29.07 million hectares in 2011.

What is the lowest permanent cropland recorded in Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 14.04 million hectares in 1961.

How does Africa rank for permanent cropland?

Africa ranks 1st out of 6 groups with data for 2011.

Is permanent cropland rising or falling in Africa?

Over the last ten years it is up 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Africa data come from?

The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Permanent cropland (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Permanent cropland in Africa

Name: Permanent cropland in Africa
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

Africa: Permanent cropland was 29.07 million hectares in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)

29.07 million hectares

Change on year

up 0.3%

Rank

1st

of 6 groups

All-time high

29.07 million hectares

in 2011

All-time low

14.04 million hectares

in 1961

Years of data

1961–2011

Permanent cropland in Africa, 1961–2011

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

The most recent figure for permanent cropland in Africa is 29.07 million hectares, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 17.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, permanent cropland in Africa peaked at 29.07 million hectares in 2011 and was at its lowest, 14.04 million hectares, in 1961.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.

Permanent cropland in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Permanent cropland (hectares) in Africa, 1961 to 2011.
Year	hectares	Change
1961	14.04 million hectares	—
1962	14.53 million hectares	+3.4%
1963	14.66 million hectares	+0.9%
1964	15.11 million hectares	+3.1%
1965	15.35 million hectares	+1.5%
1966	15.50 million hectares	+1.0%
1967	15.73 million hectares	+1.5%
1968	15.88 million hectares	+1.0%
1969	16.21 million hectares	+2.1%
1970	16.55 million hectares	+2.1%
1971	16.81 million hectares	+1.6%
1972	17.05 million hectares	+1.5%
1973	17.40 million hectares	+2.1%
1974	17.74 million hectares	+1.9%
1975	18.14 million hectares	+2.3%
1976	18.48 million hectares	+1.9%
1977	18.98 million hectares	+2.7%
1978	19.25 million hectares	+1.4%
1979	19.29 million hectares	+0.2%
1980	19.41 million hectares	+0.7%
1981	19.74 million hectares	+1.7%
1982	20.10 million hectares	+1.8%
1983	20.48 million hectares	+1.9%
1984	20.70 million hectares	+1.1%
1985	21.08 million hectares	+1.9%
1986	21.30 million hectares	+1.0%
1987	21.36 million hectares	+0.3%
1988	21.77 million hectares	+1.9%
1989	22.07 million hectares	+1.4%
1990	22.39 million hectares	+1.5%
1991	22.52 million hectares	+0.6%
1992	22.70 million hectares	+0.8%
1993	22.75 million hectares	+0.2%
1994	23.01 million hectares	+1.1%
1995	23.10 million hectares	+0.4%
1996	23.35 million hectares	+1.1%
1997	23.50 million hectares	+0.7%
1998	24.04 million hectares	+2.3%
1999	24.22 million hectares	+0.7%
2000	24.59 million hectares	+1.5%
2001	24.80 million hectares	+0.9%
2002	25.01 million hectares	+0.9%
2003	25.58 million hectares	+2.3%
2004	26.34 million hectares	+3.0%
2005	27.26 million hectares	+3.5%
2006	27.43 million hectares	+0.6%
2007	27.84 million hectares	+1.5%
2008	28.16 million hectares	+1.1%
2009	28.61 million hectares	+1.6%
2010	28.98 million hectares	+1.3%
2011	29.07 million hectares	+0.3%

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	15.22 million hectares	14.04 million hectares	16.21 million hectares	9
1970s	17.97 million hectares	16.55 million hectares	19.29 million hectares	10
1980s	20.80 million hectares	19.41 million hectares	22.07 million hectares	10
1990s	23.16 million hectares	22.39 million hectares	24.22 million hectares	10
2000s	26.56 million hectares	24.59 million hectares	28.61 million hectares	10
2010s	29.03 million hectares	28.98 million hectares	29.07 million hectares	2

Countries ranked near Africa

1 Cote d'Ivoire 4.40 million hectares compare
2 Nigeria 3.20 million hectares compare
3 Ghana 2.80 million hectares compare
4 Tunisia 2.39 million hectares compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More agriculture & rural data for Africa

Non Food — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016 thousand I$) 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
Food — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016 thousand I$) 1.86 % change on previous year (2024)
Fruit Primary — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016 thousand) 1.72 % change on previous year (2024)
Livestock — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016 thousand I$) 2.94 % change on previous year (2024)
Meat indigenous, total — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016) 3.15 % change on previous year (2024)
Milk, Total — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016 thousand) 2.96 % change on previous year (2024)
Vegetables and Fruit Primary — Gross Production Value (constant) 1.84 % change on previous year (2024)
Cabbages — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016 thousand I$) -1.83 % change on previous year (2024)
Vegetables Primary — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016) 2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
Crops — Gross Production Value (constant 2014-2016 thousand I$) 1.64 % change on previous year (2024)

All data for Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is permanent cropland in Africa?: Permanent cropland in Africa was 29.07 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
What is the highest permanent cropland recorded in Africa?: The highest recorded value was 29.07 million hectares in 2011.
What is the lowest permanent cropland recorded in Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 14.04 million hectares in 1961.
How does Africa rank for permanent cropland?: Africa ranks 1st out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is permanent cropland rising or falling in Africa?: Over the last ten years it is up 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Africa data come from?: The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Permanent cropland (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Permanent cropland in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 28 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/permanent-cropland-hectares/africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Permanent cropland (hectares)
Unit: hectares
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 58 places, 2,926 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Permanent cropland is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber.