Agricultural area over the long-term in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Agricultural area over the long-term was 2.81 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2.81 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
104th
of 202 countries
All-time high
2.81 million hectares
in 2025
All-time low
239,280 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Agricultural area over the long-term in Sri Lanka, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agricultural area over the long-term in Sri Lanka is 2.81 million hectares, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural area over the long-term in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.81 million hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 239,280 hectares, in 1000.
That places Sri Lanka 104th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 239,280 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 261,775 hectares | +9.4% |
| 1200 | 282,114 hectares | +7.8% |
| 1300 | 264,590 hectares | -6.2% |
| 1400 | 244,329 hectares | -7.7% |
| 1500 | 251,792 hectares | +3.1% |
| 1600 | 299,691 hectares | +19.0% |
| 1700 | 339,340 hectares | +13.2% |
| 1710 | 339,002 hectares | -0.1% |
| 1720 | 330,169 hectares | -2.6% |
| 1730 | 321,519 hectares | -2.6% |
| 1740 | 313,047 hectares | -2.6% |
| 1750 | 304,748 hectares | -2.7% |
| 1760 | 296,618 hectares | -2.7% |
| 1770 | 288,652 hectares | -2.7% |
| 1780 | 280,845 hectares | -2.7% |
| 1790 | 273,194 hectares | -2.7% |
| 1800 | 265,692 hectares | -2.7% |
| 1810 | 258,335 hectares | -2.8% |
| 1820 | 251,118 hectares | -2.8% |
| 1830 | 277,194 hectares | +10.4% |
| 1840 | 376,729 hectares | +35.9% |
| 1850 | 647,248 hectares | +71.8% |
| 1860 | 787,688 hectares | +21.7% |
| 1870 | 868,350 hectares | +10.2% |
| 1880 | 878,341 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1890 | 943,105 hectares | +7.4% |
| 1900 | 1.08 million hectares | +14.9% |
| 1910 | 1.18 million hectares | +9.3% |
| 1920 | 1.27 million hectares | +7.6% |
| 1930 | 1.34 million hectares | +5.0% |
| 1940 | 1.41 million hectares | +5.7% |
| 1950 | 1.69 million hectares | +19.7% |
| 1951 | 1.70 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1952 | 1.72 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 1.73 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 1.75 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 1.77 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 1.79 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 1.81 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1958 | 1.83 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 1.86 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 1.72 million hectares | -7.1% |
| 1961 | 1.72 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 1.71 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 2.06 million hectares | +20.7% |
| 1964 | 2.10 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1965 | 2.16 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 2.21 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 2.25 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 2.32 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 2.33 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 2.33 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 2.34 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 2.35 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 2.35 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 2.36 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 2.36 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 2.40 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 2.43 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 2.47 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 2.36 million hectares | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 2.35 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 2.35 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 2.30 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 2.31 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 2.31 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 2.31 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 2.33 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 2.33 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 2.34 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 2.34 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 2.34 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 2.34 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 2.34 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 2.32 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 2.32 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 2.33 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 2.33 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.33 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2.33 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2.35 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 2.35 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 2.35 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.36 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 2.37 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 2.31 million hectares | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 2.51 million hectares | +8.7% |
| 2006 | 2.44 million hectares | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 2.39 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 2.60 million hectares | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 2.61 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 2.62 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 2.73 million hectares | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 2.74 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 2.74 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.74 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.74 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.75 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 2.76 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 2.81 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 2.81 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.81 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.81 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.81 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.81 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.81 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2.81 million hectares | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.81 million hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.21 million hectares, 54% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2.81 million hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 3.65 million hectares, 77% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agricultural area over the long-term in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | +71.8% | 376,729 hectares | 647,248 hectares |
| 1840 | +35.9% | 277,194 hectares | 376,729 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 239,280 hectares | 239,280 hectares | 239,280 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 261,775 hectares | 261,775 hectares | 261,775 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 282,114 hectares | 282,114 hectares | 282,114 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 264,590 hectares | 264,590 hectares | 264,590 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 244,329 hectares | 244,329 hectares | 244,329 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 251,792 hectares | 251,792 hectares | 251,792 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 299,691 hectares | 299,691 hectares | 299,691 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 339,340 hectares | 339,340 hectares | 339,340 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 339,002 hectares | 339,002 hectares | 339,002 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 330,169 hectares | 330,169 hectares | 330,169 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 321,519 hectares | 321,519 hectares | 321,519 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 313,047 hectares | 313,047 hectares | 313,047 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 304,748 hectares | 304,748 hectares | 304,748 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 296,618 hectares | 296,618 hectares | 296,618 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 288,652 hectares | 288,652 hectares | 288,652 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 280,845 hectares | 280,845 hectares | 280,845 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 273,194 hectares | 273,194 hectares | 273,194 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 265,692 hectares | 265,692 hectares | 265,692 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 258,335 hectares | 258,335 hectares | 258,335 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 251,118 hectares | 251,118 hectares | 251,118 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 277,194 hectares | 277,194 hectares | 277,194 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 376,729 hectares | 376,729 hectares | 376,729 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 647,248 hectares | 647,248 hectares | 647,248 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 787,688 hectares | 787,688 hectares | 787,688 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 868,350 hectares | 868,350 hectares | 868,350 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 878,341 hectares | 878,341 hectares | 878,341 hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 943,105 hectares | 943,105 hectares | 943,105 hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.08 million hectares | 1.08 million hectares | 1.08 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.18 million hectares | 1.18 million hectares | 1.18 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.27 million hectares | 1.27 million hectares | 1.27 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 1.34 million hectares | 1.34 million hectares | 1.34 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 1.41 million hectares | 1.41 million hectares | 1.41 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 1.77 million hectares | 1.69 million hectares | 1.86 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.06 million hectares | 1.71 million hectares | 2.33 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.37 million hectares | 2.33 million hectares | 2.47 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.33 million hectares | 2.30 million hectares | 2.35 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.33 million hectares | 2.32 million hectares | 2.35 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.43 million hectares | 2.31 million hectares | 2.61 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.74 million hectares | 2.62 million hectares | 2.81 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.81 million hectares | 2.81 million hectares | 2.81 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More agriculture & rural data for Sri Lanka
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0051 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.109 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0043 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.1293 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0836 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 418.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9172 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural area over the long-term in Sri Lanka?
- Agricultural area over the long-term in Sri Lanka was 2.81 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.81 million hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest agricultural area over the long-term recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 239,280 hectares in 1000.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for agricultural area over the long-term?
- Sri Lanka ranks 104th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural area over the long-term rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.