What is surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.43 billion ha in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.

What is the highest surface area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?

The highest recorded value was 2.43 billion ha in 1961.

What is the lowest surface area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 2.43 billion ha in 1961.

How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for surface area?

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.

Is surface area rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?

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

Surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa

Name: Surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

Sub-Saharan Africa: Surface area was 2.43 billion ha in 2011. ▬ Flat

Latest (2011)

2.43 billion ha

Change on year

unchanged

Rank

2nd

of 6 groups

All-time high

2.43 billion ha

in 1961

All-time low

2.43 billion ha

in 1961

Years of data

1961–2011

Surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1961–2011

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

Analysis

In 2011, surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 2.43 billion ha. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 2.43 billion ha in 1961 and was at its lowest, 2.43 billion ha, in 1961.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	9
1970s	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	10
1980s	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	10
1990s	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	10
2000s	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	10
2010s	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	2.43 billion ha	2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

1 Sudan 250.58 million ha compare
2 Algeria 238.17 million ha compare
3 Democratic Republic of Congo 234.49 million ha compare
4 Libya 175.95 million ha compare
5 Chad 128.40 million ha compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More agriculture & rural data for Sub-Saharan Africa

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 395.96 billion current US$ (2025)
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 17.9% (2025)
Rural population 731.42 million (2025)
Rural population growth 1.5% (2025)
Rural population 55.3% (2025)
Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2024)
Agricultural raw materials exports 2.6% (2024)
Land under cereal production 85.37 million hectares (2024)
Cereal production 124.08 million metric tons (2024)
Cereal yield 1,453 kg per hectare (2024)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa?: Surface area in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.43 billion ha in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
What is the highest surface area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?: The highest recorded value was 2.43 billion ha in 1961.
What is the lowest surface area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 2.43 billion ha in 1961.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for surface area?: Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is surface area rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?: The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Surface area (ha). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator: Surface area (ha)
Unit: ha
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 59 places, 2,977 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.