Cropland — Share in Agricultural land in South Africa

South Africa: Cropland — Share in Agricultural land was 12.88 % in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
12.88 %
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
190th
of 217 countries
All-time high
14.47 %
in 2000
All-time low
12.02 %
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024

Cropland — Share in Agricultural land in South Africa, 1961–2024

051015196119922024

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 12.88 % for cropland — share in agricultural land in 2024.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, cropland — share in agricultural land in South Africa peaked at 14.47 % in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.02 %, in 1961.

That places South Africa 190th out of 217 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Cropland — Share in Agricultural land in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Cropland — Share in Agricultural land in South Africa, 1961 to 2024.
Year % Change
1961 12.02 %
1962 12.22 % +1.7%
1963 12.42 % +1.6%
1964 12.63 % +1.7%
1965 12.85 % +1.7%
1966 12.88 % +0.2%
1967 12.95 % +0.5%
1968 13 % +0.4%
1969 13.05 % +0.4%
1970 13.09 % +0.3%
1971 13.14 % +0.4%
1972 13.19 % +0.4%
1973 13.23 % +0.3%
1974 13.28 % +0.4%
1975 13.32 % +0.3%
1976 13.37 % +0.4%
1977 13.38 % +0.1%
1978 13.41 % +0.2%
1979 13.42 % +0.1%
1980 13.43 % +0.1%
1981 13.44 % +0.1%
1982 13.46 % +0.1%
1983 13.46 % +0.0%
1984 13.46 % +0.0%
1985 13.46 % +0.0%
1986 13.67 % +1.6%
1987 13.58 % -0.7%
1988 13.59 % +0.1%
1989 13.64 % +0.4%
1990 13.7 % +0.4%
1991 13.75 % +0.4%
1992 13.97 % +1.6%
1993 14.17 % +1.4%
1994 14.15 % -0.1%
1995 14.17 % +0.1%
1996 14.29 % +0.8%
1997 14.34 % +0.3%
1998 14.35 % +0.1%
1999 14.41 % +0.4%
2000 14.47 % +0.4%
2001 14.37 % -0.7%
2002 14.38 % +0.1%
2003 14.3 % -0.6%
2004 14.02 % -2.0%
2005 13.9 % -0.9%
2006 13.38 % -3.7%
2007 13.38 % +0.0%
2008 13.58 % +1.5%
2009 13.47 % -0.8%
2010 13.38 % -0.7%
2011 12.91 % -3.5%
2012 12.88 % -0.2%
2013 12.88 % +0.0%
2014 12.88 % +0.0%
2015 12.88 % +0.0%
2016 12.88 % +0.0%
2017 12.88 % +0.0%
2018 12.88 % +0.0%
2019 12.88 % +0.0%
2020 12.88 % +0.0%
2021 12.88 % +0.0%
2022 12.88 % +0.0%
2023 12.88 % +0.0%
2024 12.88 % +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 12.67 % 12.02 % 13.05 % 9
1970s 13.28 % 13.09 % 13.42 % 10
1980s 13.52 % 13.43 % 13.67 % 10
1990s 14.13 % 13.7 % 14.41 % 10
2000s 13.93 % 13.38 % 14.47 % 10
2010s 12.93 % 12.88 % 13.38 % 10
2020s 12.88 % 12.88 % 12.88 % 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 187 Colombia 13.36 % compare
  2. 187 Libya 13.36 % compare
  3. 189 Kyrgyzstan 13.17 % compare
  4. 191 Angola 10.87 % compare
  5. 192 Chad 10.6 % compare
  6. 193 Ireland 9.67 % compare

See the full ranking of 270 places →

More environment data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is cropland — share in agricultural land in South Africa?
Cropland — share in agricultural land in South Africa was 12.88 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest cropland — share in agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 14.47 % in 2000.
What is the lowest cropland — share in agricultural land recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 12.02 % in 1961.
How does South Africa rank for cropland — share in agricultural land?
South Africa ranks 190th out of 217 countries with data for 2024.
Is cropland — share in agricultural land 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 — Share in Agricultural land. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Cropland — Share in Agricultural land in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/cropland-share-in-agricultural-land/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Cropland — Share in Agricultural land
Unit
%
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
270 places, 15,866 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

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.