Agricultural land — Area in South Africa
South Africa: Agricultural land — Area was 96,341 1000 ha in 2024. ▬ Flat
Agricultural land — Area in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in 1000 ha.
Analysis
In 2024, agricultural land — area in South Africa stood at 96,341 1000 ha.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land — area in South Africa peaked at 101,335 1000 ha in 1961 and was at its lowest, 94,033 1000 ha, in 1982.
That places South Africa 18th out of 255 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Agricultural land — Area in South Africa, year by year
| Year | 1000 ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 101,335 1000 ha | — |
| 1962 | 100,135 1000 ha | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 98,995 1000 ha | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 97,750 1000 ha | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 96,610 1000 ha | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 96,424 1000 ha | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 96,148 1000 ha | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 95,927 1000 ha | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 95,696 1000 ha | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 95,465 1000 ha | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 95,234 1000 ha | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 95,008 1000 ha | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 94,772 1000 ha | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 94,556 1000 ha | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 94,305 1000 ha | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 94,069 1000 ha | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 94,058 1000 ha | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 94,067 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 94,056 1000 ha | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 94,055 1000 ha | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 94,044 1000 ha | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 94,033 1000 ha | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 94,033 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 94,033 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 94,033 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 94,400 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 94,650 1000 ha | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 94,900 1000 ha | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 95,300 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 95,600 1000 ha | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 96,005 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 96,473 1000 ha | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 96,936 1000 ha | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 97,265 1000 ha | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 97,520 1000 ha | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 97,890 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 97,945 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 97,988 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 98,058 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 98,125 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 98,013 1000 ha | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 98,028 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 97,928 1000 ha | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 97,608 1000 ha | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 97,483 1000 ha | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 96,888 1000 ha | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 96,890 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 97,113 1000 ha | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 96,995 1000 ha | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 96,891 1000 ha | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 96,374 1000 ha | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 96,341 1000 ha | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 96,341 1000 ha | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 96,341 1000 ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,337 1000 ha, 28.9× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 96,341 1000 ha is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12,603 1000 ha, 7.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 97,669 1000 ha | 95,696 1000 ha | 101,335 1000 ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 94,559 1000 ha | 94,056 1000 ha | 95,465 1000 ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 94,348 1000 ha | 94,033 1000 ha | 95,300 1000 ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 97,168 1000 ha | 95,600 1000 ha | 98,058 1000 ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 97,507 1000 ha | 96,888 1000 ha | 98,125 1000 ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 96,399 1000 ha | 96,341 1000 ha | 96,891 1000 ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 96,341 1000 ha | 96,341 1000 ha | 96,341 1000 ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 in South Africa?
- Agricultural land — area in South Africa was 96,341 1000 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest agricultural land — area recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 101,335 1000 ha in 1961.
- What is the lowest agricultural land — area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 94,033 1000 ha in 1982.
- How does South Africa rank for agricultural land — area?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 255 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agricultural land — area rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Agricultural land — Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The FAOSTAT Land Use domain contains data on twenty-one land use categories and twenty-three categories of irrigation and agricultural practices. Data are available yearly and by country, regional and global levels. The domain includes Land Use Indicators providing information on the percentage share of agricultural and forest land, and their sub-components, including irrigated areas and areas under organic agriculture, within a country land use matrix. Data are available at country, regional and global level, for the following elements: (in percentage) i) Share in Land area; ii) Share in Agricultural land, iii) Share in Cropland; and iv) Share in Forest land; (in ha/pc) v) Area per capita.