Agricultural area over the long-term in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural area over the long-term was 96.34 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
96.34 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
13th
of 202 countries
All-time high
101.33 million hectares
in 1961
All-time low
99,811 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Agricultural area over the long-term in South Africa, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, agricultural area over the long-term in South Africa stood at 96.34 million hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural area over the long-term in South Africa peaked at 101.33 million hectares in 1961 and was at its lowest, 99,811 hectares, in 1000.
That places South Africa 13th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agricultural area over the long-term in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 99,811 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 149,716 hectares | +50.0% |
| 1200 | 218,336 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1300 | 311,908 hectares | +42.9% |
| 1400 | 438,621 hectares | +40.6% |
| 1500 | 609,196 hectares | +38.9% |
| 1600 | 888,411 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1700 | 1.59 million hectares | +78.6% |
| 1710 | 1.95 million hectares | +22.6% |
| 1720 | 2.39 million hectares | +22.6% |
| 1730 | 2.92 million hectares | +22.5% |
| 1740 | 3.58 million hectares | +22.5% |
| 1750 | 4.38 million hectares | +22.4% |
| 1760 | 4.29 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 1770 | 4.20 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 1780 | 4.11 million hectares | -2.2% |
| 1790 | 4.02 million hectares | -2.2% |
| 1800 | 3.93 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 1810 | 3.84 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 1820 | 3.74 million hectares | -2.4% |
| 1830 | 3.65 million hectares | -2.4% |
| 1840 | 3.56 million hectares | -2.5% |
| 1850 | 4.19 million hectares | +17.7% |
| 1860 | 5.17 million hectares | +23.3% |
| 1870 | 6.85 million hectares | +32.6% |
| 1880 | 13.57 million hectares | +97.9% |
| 1890 | 16.65 million hectares | +22.8% |
| 1900 | 23.23 million hectares | +39.5% |
| 1910 | 31.16 million hectares | +34.2% |
| 1920 | 38.56 million hectares | +23.7% |
| 1930 | 47.99 million hectares | +24.5% |
| 1940 | 58.22 million hectares | +21.3% |
| 1950 | 76.72 million hectares | +31.8% |
| 1951 | 78.55 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 80.75 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 82.94 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 85.13 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 87.32 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1956 | 89.51 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1957 | 91.70 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 93.89 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1959 | 96.08 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 98.28 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 101.33 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 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% |
| 2024 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 96.34 million hectares | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 99,811 hectares | 99,811 hectares | 99,811 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 149,716 hectares | 149,716 hectares | 149,716 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 218,336 hectares | 218,336 hectares | 218,336 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 311,908 hectares | 311,908 hectares | 311,908 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 438,621 hectares | 438,621 hectares | 438,621 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 609,196 hectares | 609,196 hectares | 609,196 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 888,411 hectares | 888,411 hectares | 888,411 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.59 million hectares | 1.59 million hectares | 1.59 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.95 million hectares | 1.95 million hectares | 1.95 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.39 million hectares | 2.39 million hectares | 2.39 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.92 million hectares | 2.92 million hectares | 2.92 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.58 million hectares | 3.58 million hectares | 3.58 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 4.38 million hectares | 4.38 million hectares | 4.38 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 4.29 million hectares | 4.29 million hectares | 4.29 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.20 million hectares | 4.20 million hectares | 4.20 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 4.11 million hectares | 4.11 million hectares | 4.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 4.02 million hectares | 4.02 million hectares | 4.02 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.93 million hectares | 3.93 million hectares | 3.93 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.84 million hectares | 3.84 million hectares | 3.84 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 3.74 million hectares | 3.74 million hectares | 3.74 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 3.65 million hectares | 3.65 million hectares | 3.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 3.56 million hectares | 3.56 million hectares | 3.56 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 4.19 million hectares | 4.19 million hectares | 4.19 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 5.17 million hectares | 5.17 million hectares | 5.17 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 6.85 million hectares | 6.85 million hectares | 6.85 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 13.57 million hectares | 13.57 million hectares | 13.57 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 16.65 million hectares | 16.65 million hectares | 16.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 23.23 million hectares | 23.23 million hectares | 23.23 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 31.16 million hectares | 31.16 million hectares | 31.16 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 38.56 million hectares | 38.56 million hectares | 38.56 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 47.99 million hectares | 47.99 million hectares | 47.99 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 58.22 million hectares | 58.22 million hectares | 58.22 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 86.26 million hectares | 76.72 million hectares | 96.08 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 97.73 million hectares | 95.70 million hectares | 101.33 million hectares | 10 |
| 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 | 6 |
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 agricultural area over the long-term in South Africa?
- Agricultural area over the long-term in South Africa was 96.34 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 101.33 million hectares in 1961.
- What is the lowest agricultural area over the long-term recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 99,811 hectares in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural area over the long-term?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural area over the long-term rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
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About this data
Total agricultural area for each separate country over time.