Projections for global peak agricultural land in South Africa
South Africa: Projections for global peak agricultural land was 96.34 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
96.34 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
14th
of 227 countries
All-time high
101.33 million hectares
in 1961
All-time low
94.03 million hectares
in 1982
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Projections for global peak agricultural land in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for projections for global peak agricultural land in South Africa is 96.34 million hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, projections for global peak agricultural land in South Africa peaked at 101.33 million hectares in 1961 and was at its lowest, 94.03 million hectares, in 1982.
That places South Africa 14th out of 227 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Projections for global peak agricultural land in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 101.33 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 100.14 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 99.00 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 97.75 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 96.61 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 96.42 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 96.15 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 95.93 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 95.70 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 95.47 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 95.23 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 95.01 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 94.77 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 94.56 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 94.31 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 94.07 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 94.06 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 94.07 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 94.06 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 94.06 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 94.04 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 94.03 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 94.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 94.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 94.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 94.40 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 94.65 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 94.90 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 95.30 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 95.60 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 96.00 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 96.47 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 96.94 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 97.27 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 97.52 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 97.89 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 97.94 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 97.99 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 98.06 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 98.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 98.01 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 98.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 97.93 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 97.61 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 97.48 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 96.89 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 96.89 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 97.11 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 96.99 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 96.89 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 96.37 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 96.34 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 97.67 million hectares | 95.70 million hectares | 101.33 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 94.56 million hectares | 94.06 million hectares | 95.47 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 94.35 million hectares | 94.03 million hectares | 95.30 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.17 million hectares | 95.60 million hectares | 98.06 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 97.51 million hectares | 96.89 million hectares | 98.12 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.40 million hectares | 96.34 million hectares | 96.89 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.34 million hectares | 96.34 million hectares | 96.34 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is projections for global peak agricultural land in South Africa?
- Projections for global peak agricultural land in South Africa was 96.34 million hectares in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest projections for global peak agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 101.33 million hectares in 1961.
- What is the lowest projections for global peak agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 94.03 million hectares in 1982.
- How does South Africa rank for projections for global peak agricultural land?
- South Africa ranks 14th out of 227 countries with data for 2023.
- Is projections for global peak agricultural land rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Projections for global peak agricultural land. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Land used for cultivation of crops and animal husbandry. The total of areas under cropland and permanent meadows and pastures.