Share of land area used for arable agriculture in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Share of land area used for arable agriculture was 21.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of land area used for arable agriculture in Sierra Leone, 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
In 2023, share of land area used for arable agriculture in Sierra Leone stood at 21.9%.
The figure is up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of land area used for arable agriculture in Sierra Leone peaked at 23.4% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 1961.
Sierra Leone ranks 49th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of land area used for arable agriculture in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.9% | — |
| 1962 | 5.0% | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 5.1% | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 5.1% | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 5.2% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 5.3% | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 5.3% | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 5.4% | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 5.5% | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 5.5% | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 5.6% | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 5.7% | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 5.7% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 5.8% | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 5.9% | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 6.0% | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 6.0% | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 6.1% | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 6.2% | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 6.2% | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 6.3% | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 6.4% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 6.4% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 6.5% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 6.6% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 6.7% | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 6.7% | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 6.7% | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 6.7% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 6.7% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 6.7% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 6.8% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 9.4% | +39.1% |
| 2002 | 12.6% | +33.5% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | +35.9% |
| 2004 | 19.9% | +16.3% |
| 2005 | 20.4% | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 23.4% | +14.8% |
| 2007 | 17.8% | -24.0% |
| 2008 | 19.0% | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 20.2% | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 21.9% | +8.2% |
| 2011 | 22.9% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 20.4% | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 21.9% | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 21.9% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.2% | 4.9% | 5.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.9% | 5.5% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.5% | 6.2% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.7% | 6.8% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.9% | 20.4% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.9% | 21.9% | 21.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More agriculture & rural data for Sierra Leone
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2954 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 250 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5407 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 29.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 29.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.4% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of land area used for arable agriculture in Sierra Leone?
- Share of land area used for arable agriculture in Sierra Leone was 21.9% 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 arable agriculture recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 23.4% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of land area used for arable agriculture recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 1961.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for share of land area used for arable agriculture?
- Sierra Leone ranks 49th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of land area used for arable agriculture rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 arable agriculture. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of land area used for arable agriculture, measured as a percentage of total land area. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow.