Agricultural land use per person in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural land use per person was 1.69 hectares per person in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1.69 hectares per person
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
25th
of 202 countries
All-time high
5.63 hectares per person
in 1961
All-time low
0.3869 hectares per person
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Agricultural land use per person in South Africa, 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 South Africa stood at 1.69 hectares per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land use per person in South Africa peaked at 5.63 hectares per person in 1961 and was at its lowest, 0.3869 hectares per person, in 1000.
South Africa ranks 25th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Agricultural land use per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.3869 hectares per person | — |
| 1100 | 0.4836 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1200 | 0.6045 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1300 | 0.7556 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1400 | 0.9445 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1500 | 1.18 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1600 | 1.48 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 1.84 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1710 | 2.31 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1720 | 2.88 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1730 | 3.6 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1740 | 4.5 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1750 | 5.63 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1760 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 5.63 hectares per person | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 5.4 hectares per person | -4.1% |
| 1963 | 5.19 hectares per person | -3.9% |
| 1964 | 4.98 hectares per person | -4.0% |
| 1965 | 4.79 hectares per person | -3.8% |
| 1966 | 4.66 hectares per person | -2.8% |
| 1967 | 4.53 hectares per person | -2.8% |
| 1968 | 4.41 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 1969 | 4.29 hectares per person | -2.6% |
| 1970 | 4.18 hectares per person | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 4.05 hectares per person | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 3.92 hectares per person | -3.1% |
| 1973 | 3.8 hectares per person | -3.0% |
| 1974 | 3.69 hectares per person | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 3.59 hectares per person | -2.9% |
| 1976 | 3.49 hectares per person | -2.8% |
| 1977 | 3.4 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 3.31 hectares per person | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 3.24 hectares per person | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 3.16 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 3.08 hectares per person | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 3 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 2.93 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 2.86 hectares per person | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 2.79 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 2.74 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 2.68 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 2.63 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 2.59 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 2.54 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 2.5 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 2.45 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 2.41 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 2.36 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 2.32 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 2.28 hectares per person | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 2.24 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 2.21 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 2.18 hectares per person | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 2.15 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 2.16 hectares per person | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 2.13 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 2.1 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 2.07 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 2.04 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 2.01 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 1.99 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 1.97 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 1.95 hectares per person | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 1.93 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 1.9 hectares per person | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.89 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 1.87 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 1.85 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 1.84 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 1.82 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 1.8 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 1.79 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 1.77 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 1.76 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 1.75 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 1.73 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 1.72 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 1.71 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 1.69 hectares per person | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.3869 hectares per person | 0.3869 hectares per person | 0.3869 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.4836 hectares per person | 0.4836 hectares per person | 0.4836 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.6045 hectares per person | 0.6045 hectares per person | 0.6045 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.7556 hectares per person | 0.7556 hectares per person | 0.7556 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.9445 hectares per person | 0.9445 hectares per person | 0.9445 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.18 hectares per person | 1.18 hectares per person | 1.18 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.48 hectares per person | 1.48 hectares per person | 1.48 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.84 hectares per person | 1.84 hectares per person | 1.84 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.31 hectares per person | 2.31 hectares per person | 2.31 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.88 hectares per person | 2.88 hectares per person | 2.88 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.6 hectares per person | 3.6 hectares per person | 3.6 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1740s | 4.5 hectares per person | 4.5 hectares per person | 4.5 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1760s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1770s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1820s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1830s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1840s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1850s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1860s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1870s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1880s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1890s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1900s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1910s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1920s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1930s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1940s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1950s | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.95 hectares per person | 4.29 hectares per person | 5.63 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.67 hectares per person | 3.24 hectares per person | 4.18 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.84 hectares per person | 2.59 hectares per person | 3.16 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.35 hectares per person | 2.18 hectares per person | 2.54 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.06 hectares per person | 1.95 hectares per person | 2.16 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.85 hectares per person | 1.77 hectares per person | 1.93 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.73 hectares per person | 1.69 hectares per person | 1.76 hectares per person | 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 land use per person in South Africa?
- Agricultural land use per person in South Africa was 1.69 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.63 hectares per person in 1961.
- What is the lowest agricultural land use per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3869 hectares per person in 1000.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural land use per person?
- South Africa ranks 25th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural land use per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 land use per person. 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 land per person for each separate country over time.