Agricultural land use per person in China
China: Agricultural land use per person was 0.3835 hectares per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Agricultural land use per person in China, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares per person.
Analysis
In 2025, agricultural land use per person in China stood at 0.3835 hectares per person. That is the lowest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land use per person in China peaked at 0.9211 hectares per person in 1000 and was at its lowest, 0.3835 hectares per person, in 2025.
That places China 99th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 108 years of available data.
Agricultural land use per person in China, year by year
| Year | hectares per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.9211 hectares per person | — |
| 1100 | 0.904 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1200 | 0.8927 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1300 | 0.8872 hectares per person | -0.6% |
| 1400 | 0.8806 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1500 | 0.8686 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 1600 | 0.8554 hectares per person | -1.5% |
| 1700 | 0.8689 hectares per person | +1.6% |
| 1710 | 0.8678 hectares per person | -0.1% |
| 1720 | 0.8224 hectares per person | -5.2% |
| 1730 | 0.8037 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1740 | 0.7578 hectares per person | -5.7% |
| 1750 | 0.6838 hectares per person | -9.8% |
| 1760 | 0.656 hectares per person | -4.1% |
| 1770 | 0.6281 hectares per person | -4.2% |
| 1780 | 0.5791 hectares per person | -7.8% |
| 1790 | 0.5683 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1800 | 0.5792 hectares per person | +1.9% |
| 1810 | 0.555 hectares per person | -4.2% |
| 1820 | 0.5578 hectares per person | +0.5% |
| 1830 | 0.5421 hectares per person | -2.8% |
| 1840 | 0.5331 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 1850 | 0.5266 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1860 | 0.5301 hectares per person | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 0.5603 hectares per person | +5.7% |
| 1880 | 0.5588 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1890 | 0.5579 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1900 | 0.5508 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1910 | 0.5504 hectares per person | -0.1% |
| 1920 | 0.5395 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 1930 | 0.542 hectares per person | +0.5% |
| 1940 | 0.5478 hectares per person | +1.1% |
| 1950 | 0.5601 hectares per person | +2.3% |
| 1951 | 0.5592 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1952 | 0.5618 hectares per person | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 0.5596 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 1954 | 0.5578 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1955 | 0.5597 hectares per person | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 0.5599 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.5581 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 0.5564 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1959 | 0.5459 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 0.5361 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1961 | 0.5271 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 1962 | 0.5275 hectares per person | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 0.5264 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 0.5247 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 0.5204 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 0.5179 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 0.5104 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 0.4997 hectares per person | -2.1% |
| 1969 | 0.4929 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 0.4928 hectares per person | -0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.4904 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 0.4839 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 0.486 hectares per person | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 0.485 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 0.4839 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 0.4837 hectares per person | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 0.4824 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 0.4861 hectares per person | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 0.4893 hectares per person | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 0.485 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 0.4825 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 0.4798 hectares per person | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 0.4772 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 0.4746 hectares per person | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 0.4719 hectares per person | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 0.4677 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 0.4638 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 0.4601 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 0.4567 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 0.4537 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 0.4524 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 0.451 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 0.4494 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 0.4479 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 0.4425 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 0.4382 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 0.4341 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 0.4301 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 0.426 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 0.4216 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 0.4186 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4148 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 0.4105 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 0.4074 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 0.4047 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 0.4024 hectares per person | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 0.4003 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 0.3983 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 0.3963 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 0.3942 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 0.3931 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.392 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 0.391 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 0.3898 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 0.3887 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.3876 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 0.3865 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 0.3856 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 0.3846 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 0.3835 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 0.3835 hectares per person | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.3835 hectares per person | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.3835 hectares per person | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.3835 hectares per person | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.3835 hectares per person | -0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.3835 hectares per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4169 hectares per person, 92% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 0.3835 hectares per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2284 hectares per person, 1.7× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.9211 hectares per person | 0.9211 hectares per person | 0.9211 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.904 hectares per person | 0.904 hectares per person | 0.904 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.8927 hectares per person | 0.8927 hectares per person | 0.8927 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.8872 hectares per person | 0.8872 hectares per person | 0.8872 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.8806 hectares per person | 0.8806 hectares per person | 0.8806 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.8686 hectares per person | 0.8686 hectares per person | 0.8686 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.8554 hectares per person | 0.8554 hectares per person | 0.8554 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.8689 hectares per person | 0.8689 hectares per person | 0.8689 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.8678 hectares per person | 0.8678 hectares per person | 0.8678 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.8224 hectares per person | 0.8224 hectares per person | 0.8224 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.8037 hectares per person | 0.8037 hectares per person | 0.8037 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.7578 hectares per person | 0.7578 hectares per person | 0.7578 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.6838 hectares per person | 0.6838 hectares per person | 0.6838 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.656 hectares per person | 0.656 hectares per person | 0.656 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.6281 hectares per person | 0.6281 hectares per person | 0.6281 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.5791 hectares per person | 0.5791 hectares per person | 0.5791 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.5683 hectares per person | 0.5683 hectares per person | 0.5683 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.5792 hectares per person | 0.5792 hectares per person | 0.5792 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.555 hectares per person | 0.555 hectares per person | 0.555 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.5578 hectares per person | 0.5578 hectares per person | 0.5578 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.5421 hectares per person | 0.5421 hectares per person | 0.5421 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.5331 hectares per person | 0.5331 hectares per person | 0.5331 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.5266 hectares per person | 0.5266 hectares per person | 0.5266 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1860s | 0.5301 hectares per person | 0.5301 hectares per person | 0.5301 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1870s | 0.5603 hectares per person | 0.5603 hectares per person | 0.5603 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.5588 hectares per person | 0.5588 hectares per person | 0.5588 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.5579 hectares per person | 0.5579 hectares per person | 0.5579 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.5508 hectares per person | 0.5508 hectares per person | 0.5508 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.5504 hectares per person | 0.5504 hectares per person | 0.5504 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.5395 hectares per person | 0.5395 hectares per person | 0.5395 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1930s | 0.542 hectares per person | 0.542 hectares per person | 0.542 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1940s | 0.5478 hectares per person | 0.5478 hectares per person | 0.5478 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1950s | 0.5578 hectares per person | 0.5459 hectares per person | 0.5618 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.5183 hectares per person | 0.4929 hectares per person | 0.5361 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4864 hectares per person | 0.4824 hectares per person | 0.4928 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4719 hectares per person | 0.4567 hectares per person | 0.485 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4425 hectares per person | 0.426 hectares per person | 0.4537 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4075 hectares per person | 0.3963 hectares per person | 0.4216 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3893 hectares per person | 0.3846 hectares per person | 0.3942 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3835 hectares per person | 0.3835 hectares per person | 0.3835 hectares per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0314 % 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 0.0951 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0082 % 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 0.3742 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land use per person in China?
- Agricultural land use per person in China was 0.3835 hectares per person in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agricultural land use per person recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9211 hectares per person in 1000.
- What is the lowest agricultural land use per person recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3835 hectares per person in 2025.
- How does China rank for agricultural land use per person?
- China ranks 99th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural land use per person rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Agricultural land use per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total agricultural land per person for each separate country over time.