Agricultural area over the long-term in Japan
Japan: Agricultural area over the long-term was 4.55 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
4.55 million hectares
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
92nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
7.12 million hectares
in 1962
All-time low
937,632 hectares
in 1200
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Agricultural area over the long-term in Japan, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Japan recorded 4.55 million hectares for agricultural area over the long-term in 2025.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural area over the long-term in Japan peaked at 7.12 million hectares in 1962 and was at its lowest, 937,632 hectares, in 1200.
That places Japan 92nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Agricultural area over the long-term in Japan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 1.10 million hectares | — |
| 1100 | 1.13 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1200 | 937,632 hectares | -16.7% |
| 1300 | 1.03 million hectares | +10.0% |
| 1400 | 1.24 million hectares | +20.4% |
| 1500 | 1.57 million hectares | +26.1% |
| 1600 | 2.05 million hectares | +30.7% |
| 1700 | 3.01 million hectares | +46.7% |
| 1710 | 3.23 million hectares | +7.6% |
| 1720 | 3.28 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1730 | 3.25 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1740 | 3.22 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1750 | 3.14 million hectares | -2.6% |
| 1760 | 3.08 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 1770 | 3.03 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 1780 | 2.92 million hectares | -3.4% |
| 1790 | 2.87 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1800 | 2.82 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1810 | 2.86 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1820 | 2.90 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1830 | 3.01 million hectares | +3.7% |
| 1840 | 3.05 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 3.09 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1860 | 3.11 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1870 | 3.17 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1880 | 3.34 million hectares | +5.5% |
| 1890 | 3.52 million hectares | +5.4% |
| 1900 | 3.87 million hectares | +9.8% |
| 1910 | 4.27 million hectares | +10.5% |
| 1920 | 4.66 million hectares | +9.0% |
| 1930 | 5.26 million hectares | +12.8% |
| 1940 | 5.97 million hectares | +13.6% |
| 1950 | 6.61 million hectares | +10.7% |
| 1951 | 6.71 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 6.68 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1953 | 6.75 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1954 | 6.81 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1955 | 6.76 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1956 | 6.80 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 6.85 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1958 | 6.89 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 6.92 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 7.11 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 7.11 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 7.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 7.02 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 7.03 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 7.00 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1966 | 6.90 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 1967 | 6.84 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 6.80 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 6.65 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 6.70 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 6.54 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 6.47 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 6.42 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 6.38 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 6.32 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 6.27 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 6.24 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 6.21 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 6.18 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 6.15 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 6.12 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 6.09 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 6.07 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 6.04 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 6.02 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 5.99 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 5.96 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 5.92 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 5.88 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 5.83 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 5.78 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 5.74 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 5.69 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 5.62 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 5.56 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 5.50 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 5.44 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 5.38 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 5.32 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 5.26 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 5.21 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 5.17 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 5.14 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 5.11 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 5.08 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 5.05 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 5.03 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 5.00 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 4.97 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 4.95 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 4.92 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 4.91 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 4.89 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 4.87 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 4.85 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 4.81 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 4.78 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 4.75 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 4.71 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 4.68 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 4.66 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 4.63 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 4.60 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 4.58 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 4.55 million hectares | -0.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 4.55 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.51 million hectares, 3.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Japan's 4.55 million hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.15 million hectares, 2.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agricultural area over the long-term in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +46.7% | 2.05 million hectares | 3.01 million hectares |
| 1600 | +30.7% | 1.57 million hectares | 2.05 million hectares |
| 1500 | +26.1% | 1.24 million hectares | 1.57 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 1.10 million hectares | 1.10 million hectares | 1.10 million hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 1.13 million hectares | 1.13 million hectares | 1.13 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 937,632 hectares | 937,632 hectares | 937,632 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.03 million hectares | 1.03 million hectares | 1.03 million hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 1.24 million hectares | 1.24 million hectares | 1.24 million hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.57 million hectares | 1.57 million hectares | 1.57 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.05 million hectares | 2.05 million hectares | 2.05 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.01 million hectares | 3.01 million hectares | 3.01 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.23 million hectares | 3.23 million hectares | 3.23 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 3.28 million hectares | 3.28 million hectares | 3.28 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.25 million hectares | 3.25 million hectares | 3.25 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.22 million hectares | 3.22 million hectares | 3.22 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.14 million hectares | 3.14 million hectares | 3.14 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.08 million hectares | 3.08 million hectares | 3.08 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.03 million hectares | 3.03 million hectares | 3.03 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 2.92 million hectares | 2.92 million hectares | 2.92 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.87 million hectares | 2.87 million hectares | 2.87 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 2.82 million hectares | 2.82 million hectares | 2.82 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 2.86 million hectares | 2.86 million hectares | 2.86 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 2.90 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 3.01 million hectares | 3.01 million hectares | 3.01 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 3.05 million hectares | 3.05 million hectares | 3.05 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 3.09 million hectares | 3.09 million hectares | 3.09 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 3.11 million hectares | 3.11 million hectares | 3.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 3.17 million hectares | 3.17 million hectares | 3.17 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 3.34 million hectares | 3.34 million hectares | 3.34 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 3.52 million hectares | 3.52 million hectares | 3.52 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 3.87 million hectares | 3.87 million hectares | 3.87 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 4.27 million hectares | 4.27 million hectares | 4.27 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 4.66 million hectares | 4.66 million hectares | 4.66 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 5.26 million hectares | 5.26 million hectares | 5.26 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 5.97 million hectares | 5.97 million hectares | 5.97 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 6.78 million hectares | 6.61 million hectares | 6.92 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.96 million hectares | 6.65 million hectares | 7.12 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.37 million hectares | 6.18 million hectares | 6.70 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.02 million hectares | 5.88 million hectares | 6.15 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.59 million hectares | 5.32 million hectares | 5.83 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.10 million hectares | 4.97 million hectares | 5.26 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.84 million hectares | 4.71 million hectares | 4.95 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.62 million hectares | 4.55 million hectares | 4.68 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More agriculture & rural data for Japan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0096 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 323.87 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.0% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural area over the long-term in Japan?
- Agricultural area over the long-term in Japan was 4.55 million hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agricultural area over the long-term recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 7.12 million hectares in 1962.
- What is the lowest agricultural area over the long-term recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 937,632 hectares in 1200.
- How does Japan rank for agricultural area over the long-term?
- Japan ranks 92nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural area over the long-term rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Agricultural area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total agricultural area for each separate country over time.