Agricultural land use per person in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Agricultural land use per person was 0.1226 hectares per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
0.1226 hectares per person
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
158th
of 202 countries
All-time high
0.3183 hectares per person
in 1880
All-time low
0.1177 hectares per person
in 2004
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Agricultural land use per person in Sri Lanka, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares per person.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 0.1226 hectares per person for agricultural land use per person in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land use per person in Sri Lanka peaked at 0.3183 hectares per person in 1880 and was at its lowest, 0.1177 hectares per person, in 2004.
That places Sri Lanka 158th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 108 years of available data.
Agricultural land use per person in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | hectares per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.2991 hectares per person | — |
| 1100 | 0.2909 hectares per person | -2.8% |
| 1200 | 0.2821 hectares per person | -3.0% |
| 1300 | 0.2728 hectares per person | -3.3% |
| 1400 | 0.2627 hectares per person | -3.7% |
| 1500 | 0.2518 hectares per person | -4.2% |
| 1600 | 0.2398 hectares per person | -4.8% |
| 1700 | 0.2262 hectares per person | -5.6% |
| 1710 | 0.2248 hectares per person | -0.6% |
| 1720 | 0.2233 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1730 | 0.2218 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1740 | 0.2203 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1750 | 0.2187 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1760 | 0.2171 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1770 | 0.2155 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 1780 | 0.2139 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1790 | 0.2122 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1800 | 0.2105 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1810 | 0.2088 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1820 | 0.207 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1830 | 0.1954 hectares per person | -5.6% |
| 1840 | 0.2124 hectares per person | +8.7% |
| 1850 | 0.2919 hectares per person | +37.4% |
| 1860 | 0.3149 hectares per person | +7.9% |
| 1870 | 0.3117 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 1880 | 0.3183 hectares per person | +2.1% |
| 1890 | 0.318 hectares per person | -0.1% |
| 1900 | 0.3106 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1910 | 0.294 hectares per person | -5.3% |
| 1920 | 0.2741 hectares per person | -6.8% |
| 1930 | 0.2562 hectares per person | -6.5% |
| 1940 | 0.2379 hectares per person | -7.1% |
| 1950 | 0.2124 hectares per person | -10.8% |
| 1951 | 0.2102 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 1952 | 0.2081 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 1953 | 0.2059 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 1954 | 0.2037 hectares per person | -1.1% |
| 1955 | 0.2015 hectares per person | -1.1% |
| 1956 | 0.1992 hectares per person | -1.1% |
| 1957 | 0.197 hectares per person | -1.1% |
| 1958 | 0.1947 hectares per person | -1.1% |
| 1959 | 0.1925 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1960 | 0.1745 hectares per person | -9.3% |
| 1961 | 0.1704 hectares per person | -2.3% |
| 1962 | 0.1649 hectares per person | -3.2% |
| 1963 | 0.1944 hectares per person | +17.9% |
| 1964 | 0.1938 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 0.194 hectares per person | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 0.1937 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 0.1934 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 0.1944 hectares per person | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 0.1906 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 1970 | 0.1869 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 0.1834 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 0.1802 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 0.177 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 1974 | 0.174 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 1975 | 0.1708 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 0.1704 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 0.1699 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 0.1694 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 0.1591 hectares per person | -6.1% |
| 1980 | 0.1557 hectares per person | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 0.1534 hectares per person | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 0.1478 hectares per person | -3.7% |
| 1983 | 0.1465 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 0.1446 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 0.1428 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 0.1415 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 0.1401 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 0.1384 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 0.1367 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 0.1349 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 0.1337 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 0.1325 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 0.1298 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 0.1287 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 0.1276 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 0.1269 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 0.1263 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 0.1256 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 0.1258 hectares per person | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 0.1254 hectares per person | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 0.124 hectares per person | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 0.1228 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 0.1221 hectares per person | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 0.1177 hectares per person | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 0.1265 hectares per person | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1217 hectares per person | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 0.118 hectares per person | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 0.1269 hectares per person | +7.5% |
| 2009 | 0.1264 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 0.1256 hectares per person | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 0.1299 hectares per person | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 0.1294 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 0.1284 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.1275 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 0.1266 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.1261 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 0.1257 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 0.1271 hectares per person | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1262 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 0.1253 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 0.1248 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 0.1242 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 0.1237 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 0.1231 hectares per person | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 0.1226 hectares per person | -0.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 0.1226 hectares per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4169 hectares per person, 29% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 0.1226 hectares per person is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.1215 hectares per person, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agricultural land use per person 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 | +37.4% | 0.2124 hectares per person | 0.2919 hectares per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.2991 hectares per person | 0.2991 hectares per person | 0.2991 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.2909 hectares per person | 0.2909 hectares per person | 0.2909 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.2821 hectares per person | 0.2821 hectares per person | 0.2821 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.2728 hectares per person | 0.2728 hectares per person | 0.2728 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.2627 hectares per person | 0.2627 hectares per person | 0.2627 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2518 hectares per person | 0.2518 hectares per person | 0.2518 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.2398 hectares per person | 0.2398 hectares per person | 0.2398 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.2262 hectares per person | 0.2262 hectares per person | 0.2262 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.2248 hectares per person | 0.2248 hectares per person | 0.2248 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.2233 hectares per person | 0.2233 hectares per person | 0.2233 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.2218 hectares per person | 0.2218 hectares per person | 0.2218 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.2203 hectares per person | 0.2203 hectares per person | 0.2203 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.2187 hectares per person | 0.2187 hectares per person | 0.2187 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.2171 hectares per person | 0.2171 hectares per person | 0.2171 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.2155 hectares per person | 0.2155 hectares per person | 0.2155 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.2139 hectares per person | 0.2139 hectares per person | 0.2139 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.2122 hectares per person | 0.2122 hectares per person | 0.2122 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.2105 hectares per person | 0.2105 hectares per person | 0.2105 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.2088 hectares per person | 0.2088 hectares per person | 0.2088 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.207 hectares per person | 0.207 hectares per person | 0.207 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.1954 hectares per person | 0.1954 hectares per person | 0.1954 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.2124 hectares per person | 0.2124 hectares per person | 0.2124 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.2919 hectares per person | 0.2919 hectares per person | 0.2919 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1860s | 0.3149 hectares per person | 0.3149 hectares per person | 0.3149 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1870s | 0.3117 hectares per person | 0.3117 hectares per person | 0.3117 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.3183 hectares per person | 0.3183 hectares per person | 0.3183 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.318 hectares per person | 0.318 hectares per person | 0.318 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.3106 hectares per person | 0.3106 hectares per person | 0.3106 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.294 hectares per person | 0.294 hectares per person | 0.294 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.2741 hectares per person | 0.2741 hectares per person | 0.2741 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1930s | 0.2562 hectares per person | 0.2562 hectares per person | 0.2562 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1940s | 0.2379 hectares per person | 0.2379 hectares per person | 0.2379 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1950s | 0.2025 hectares per person | 0.1925 hectares per person | 0.2124 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1864 hectares per person | 0.1649 hectares per person | 0.1944 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1741 hectares per person | 0.1591 hectares per person | 0.1869 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1448 hectares per person | 0.1367 hectares per person | 0.1557 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1292 hectares per person | 0.1256 hectares per person | 0.1349 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1231 hectares per person | 0.1177 hectares per person | 0.1269 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1272 hectares per person | 0.1256 hectares per person | 0.1299 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.124 hectares per person | 0.1226 hectares per person | 0.1253 hectares per person | 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 land use per person in Sri Lanka?
- Agricultural land use per person in Sri Lanka was 0.1226 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3183 hectares per person in 1880.
- What is the lowest agricultural land use per person recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1177 hectares per person in 2004.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for agricultural land use per person?
- Sri Lanka ranks 158th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural land use per person rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 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.