Land use in South Africa
South Africa: Land use was 12.41 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
12.41 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
28th
of 224 countries
All-time high
14.20 million hectares
in 2000
All-time low
12.19 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Land use in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 12.41 million hectares for land use in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use in South Africa peaked at 14.20 million hectares in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.19 million hectares, in 1961.
That places South Africa 28th out of 224 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Land use in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 12.19 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 12.23 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 12.29 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 12.35 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 12.42 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 12.45 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 12.47 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 12.49 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 12.49 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 12.51 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 12.53 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 12.54 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 12.56 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 12.56 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 12.58 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 12.59 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 12.62 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 12.63 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 12.63 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 12.64 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 12.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 12.90 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 12.85 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 12.90 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 13.00 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 13.10 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 13.21 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 13.47 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 13.74 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 13.77 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 13.82 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 13.99 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 14.04 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 14.06 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 14.13 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 14.20 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 14.09 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 14.10 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 14.00 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 13.68 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 13.55 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 12.96 million hectares | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 12.96 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 13.18 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 13.06 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 12.96 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 12.45 million hectares | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 12.41 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12.41 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.58 million hectares, 7.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12.41 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.21 million hectares, 3.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.37 million hectares | 12.19 million hectares | 12.49 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 12.56 million hectares | 12.49 million hectares | 12.63 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.75 million hectares | 12.63 million hectares | 13.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.73 million hectares | 13.10 million hectares | 14.13 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.58 million hectares | 12.96 million hectares | 14.20 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.47 million hectares | 12.41 million hectares | 12.96 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.41 million hectares | 12.41 million hectares | 12.41 million hectares | 4 |
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)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.4366 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land use in South Africa?
- Land use in South Africa was 12.41 million hectares in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land use recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.20 million hectares in 2000.
- What is the lowest land use recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.19 million hectares in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for land use?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is land use 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 (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Land use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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