Permanent cropland in China
China: Permanent cropland was 2.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Permanent cropland in China, 1961–2023
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for permanent cropland in China is 2.0%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, permanent cropland in China peaked at 2.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1961.
That places China 90th out of 201 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Permanent cropland in China, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.2% | — |
| 1962 | 0.2% | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 0.2% | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 0.2% | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 0.2% | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 0.2% | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 0.2% | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 0.2% | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | +3.6% |
| 1971 | 0.3% | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 0.3% | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 0.3% | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 0.3% | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +6.1% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | +28.9% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | +22.4% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +16.7% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | +11.5% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +6.9% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | +12.0% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 1.2% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 1.3% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 1.9% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 87 Cayman Islands 2.1% compare
- 88 North Korea 2.1% compare
- 89 Liberia 2.1% compare
- 91 Mauritius 2.0% compare
- 92 Papua New Guinea 2.0% compare
- 93 France 1.9% compare
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is permanent cropland in China?
- Permanent cropland in China was 2.0% in 2023, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest permanent cropland recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest permanent cropland recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1961.
- How does China rank for permanent cropland?
- China ranks 90th out of 201 countries with data for 2023.
- Is permanent cropland rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Permanent cropland (% of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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.