Share of land area used for agriculture in India
India: Share of land area used for agriculture was 60.1% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Share of land area used for agriculture in India, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of land area.
Analysis
India recorded 60.1% for share of land area used for agriculture in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of land area used for agriculture in India peaked at 61.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 58.8%, in 1961.
That places India 39th out of 209 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of land area used for agriculture in India, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 58.8% | — |
| 1962 | 59.4% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 59.2% | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 59.4% | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 59.6% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 59.7% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 59.8% | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 60.0% | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 59.8% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 59.8% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 60.1% | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 60.3% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 60.4% | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 60.7% | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 60.7% | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 60.6% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 60.7% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 60.8% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 60.7% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 61.0% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 61.0% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 61.1% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 60.9% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 61.0% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 61.0% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 61.1% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 61.0% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 61.0% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 61.0% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 60.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 60.7% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 60.9% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 60.8% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 60.9% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 60.9% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 60.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 60.7% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 60.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 60.7% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 60.6% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 60.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 60.4% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 60.5% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 60.6% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 60.4% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.3% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 60.2% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 60.2% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 60.0% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 60.1% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 60.1% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 59.5% | 58.8% | 60.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 60.3% | 59.8% | 60.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 60.9% | 60.6% | 61.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 60.9% | 60.7% | 61.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.6% | 60.4% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.4% | 60.2% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.1% | 60.0% | 60.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More agriculture & rural data for India
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1623 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 438.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4067 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6431 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of land area used for agriculture in India?
- Share of land area used for agriculture in India was 60.1% in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of land area used for agriculture recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 61.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of land area used for agriculture recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.8% in 1961.
- How does India rank for share of land area used for agriculture?
- India ranks 39th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of land area used for agriculture rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of land area used for agriculture. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of land area used for agriculture, measured as a percentage of total land area. Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures.