Cropland — Area in South Africa
South Africa: Cropland — Area was 12,413 1000 ha in 2024. ▬ Flat
Cropland — Area in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in 1000 ha.
Analysis
In 2024, cropland — area in South Africa stood at 12,413 1000 ha.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland — area in South Africa peaked at 14,197 1000 ha in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12,185 1000 ha, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 35th of 252 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Cropland — Area in South Africa, year by year
| Year | 1000 ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 12,185 1000 ha | — |
| 1962 | 12,235 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 12,295 1000 ha | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 12,350 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 12,410 1000 ha | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 12,424 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 12,448 1000 ha | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 12,467 1000 ha | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 12,486 1000 ha | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 12,495 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 12,514 1000 ha | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 12,528 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 12,542 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 12,556 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 12,565 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 12,579 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 12,588 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 12,617 1000 ha | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 12,626 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 12,635 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 12,644 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 12,655 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 12,655 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 12,655 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 12,655 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 12,900 1000 ha | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 12,850 1000 ha | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 12,900 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 13,000 1000 ha | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 13,100 1000 ha | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 13,205 1000 ha | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 13,473 1000 ha | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 13,736 1000 ha | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 13,765 1000 ha | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 13,820 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 13,990 1000 ha | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 14,045 1000 ha | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 14,060 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 14,130 1000 ha | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 14,197 1000 ha | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 14,085 1000 ha | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 14,100 1000 ha | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 14,000 1000 ha | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 13,680 1000 ha | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 13,555 1000 ha | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 12,960 1000 ha | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 12,962 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 13,185 1000 ha | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 13,067 1000 ha | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 12,963 1000 ha | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 12,446 1000 ha | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 12,413 1000 ha | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 12,413 1000 ha | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12,413 1000 ha is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,680 1000 ha, 7.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12,413 1000 ha is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,830 1000 ha, 4.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12,367 1000 ha | 12,185 1000 ha | 12,486 1000 ha | 9 |
| 1970s | 12,561 1000 ha | 12,495 1000 ha | 12,626 1000 ha | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,755 1000 ha | 12,635 1000 ha | 13,000 1000 ha | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,732 1000 ha | 13,100 1000 ha | 14,130 1000 ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,579 1000 ha | 12,960 1000 ha | 14,197 1000 ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,471 1000 ha | 12,413 1000 ha | 12,963 1000 ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,413 1000 ha | 12,413 1000 ha | 12,413 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 cropland — area in South Africa?
- Cropland — area in South Africa was 12,413 1000 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest cropland — area recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14,197 1000 ha in 2000.
- What is the lowest cropland — area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,185 1000 ha in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for cropland — area?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 252 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cropland — 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 Cropland — 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.