Agricultural land area — Arable land in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural land area — Arable land was 12,000 Hectares in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
12,000 Hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
13th
of 42 countries
All-time high
13,812 Hectares
in 2000
All-time low
12,000 Hectares
in 2012
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Agricultural land area — Arable land in South Africa, 1985–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hectares.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 12,000 Hectares for agricultural land area — arable land in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land area — arable land in South Africa peaked at 13,812 Hectares in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12,000 Hectares, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 13th of 42 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Agricultural land area — Arable land in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 12,355 Hectares | — |
| 1986 | 12,600 Hectares | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 12,550 Hectares | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 12,600 Hectares | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 12,700 Hectares | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 12,800 Hectares | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 12,900 Hectares | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 13,163 Hectares | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 13,426 Hectares | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 13,450 Hectares | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 13,500 Hectares | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 13,650 Hectares | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 13,700 Hectares | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 13,700 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 13,760 Hectares | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 13,812 Hectares | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 13,685 Hectares | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 13,700 Hectares | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 13,600 Hectares | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 13,300 Hectares | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 13,175 Hectares | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 12,600 Hectares | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 12,600 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 12,800 Hectares | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 12,660 Hectares | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 12,533 Hectares | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 12,033 Hectares | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 12,000 Hectares | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12,000 Hectares | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12,000 Hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20,024 Hectares, 60% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12,561 Hectares | 12,355 Hectares | 12,700 Hectares | 5 |
| 1990s | 13,405 Hectares | 12,800 Hectares | 13,760 Hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,193 Hectares | 12,600 Hectares | 13,812 Hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,057 Hectares | 12,000 Hectares | 12,533 Hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,000 Hectares | 12,000 Hectares | 12,000 Hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 10 Mexico 20,024 Hectares compare
- 10 Croatia 850.26 Hectares compare
- 11 Indonesia 17,783 Hectares compare
- 11 Estonia 704.67 Hectares compare
- 12 France 16,938 Hectares compare
- 12 Slovenia 173.93 Hectares compare
- 14 Germany 11,656 Hectares compare
- 15 Spain 11,366 Hectares compare
- 16 Romania 8,381 Hectares compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.2953 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land area — arable land in South Africa?
- Agricultural land area — arable land in South Africa was 12,000 Hectares in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest agricultural land area — arable land recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13,812 Hectares in 2000.
- What is the lowest agricultural land area — arable land recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,000 Hectares in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural land area — arable land?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 42 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land area — arable land rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Agricultural land area — Arable land. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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