What is the highest area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 89.15 million hectares in 1961.

What is the lowest area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 81.38 million hectares in 1982.

How does South Africa rank for area of permanent meadows and pastures?

South Africa ranks 11th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.

Is area of permanent meadows and pastures 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 Area of permanent meadows and pastures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa

Name: Area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Area of permanent meadows and pastures was 83.93 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)

83.93 million hectares

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

11th

of 209 countries

All-time high

89.15 million hectares

in 1961

All-time low

81.38 million hectares

in 1982

Years of data

1961–2023

Area of permanent meadows and pastures 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

The most recent figure for area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa is 83.93 million hectares, measured in 2023.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa peaked at 89.15 million hectares in 1961 and was at its lowest, 81.38 million hectares, in 1982.

South Africa ranks 11th of 209 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa, 1961 to 2023.
Year	hectares	Change
1961	89.15 million hectares	—
1962	87.90 million hectares	-1.4%
1963	86.70 million hectares	-1.4%
1964	85.40 million hectares	-1.5%
1965	84.20 million hectares	-1.4%
1966	84.00 million hectares	-0.2%
1967	83.70 million hectares	-0.4%
1968	83.46 million hectares	-0.3%
1969	83.21 million hectares	-0.3%
1970	82.97 million hectares	-0.3%
1971	82.72 million hectares	-0.3%
1972	82.48 million hectares	-0.3%
1973	82.23 million hectares	-0.3%
1974	82.00 million hectares	-0.3%
1975	81.74 million hectares	-0.3%
1976	81.49 million hectares	-0.3%
1977	81.47 million hectares	-0.0%
1978	81.45 million hectares	-0.0%
1979	81.43 million hectares	-0.0%
1980	81.42 million hectares	-0.0%
1981	81.40 million hectares	-0.0%
1982	81.38 million hectares	-0.0%
1983	81.38 million hectares	+0.0%
1984	81.38 million hectares	+0.0%
1985	81.38 million hectares	+0.0%
1986	81.50 million hectares	+0.1%
1987	81.80 million hectares	+0.4%
1988	82.00 million hectares	+0.2%
1989	82.30 million hectares	+0.4%
1990	82.50 million hectares	+0.2%
1991	82.80 million hectares	+0.4%
1992	83.00 million hectares	+0.2%
1993	83.20 million hectares	+0.2%
1994	83.50 million hectares	+0.4%
1995	83.70 million hectares	+0.2%
1996	83.90 million hectares	+0.2%
1997	83.90 million hectares	+0.0%
1998	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
1999	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2000	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2001	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2002	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2003	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2004	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2005	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2006	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2007	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2008	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2009	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2010	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2011	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2012	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2013	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2014	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2015	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2016	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2017	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2018	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2019	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2020	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2021	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2022	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%
2023	83.93 million hectares	+0.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

South Africa's 83.93 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.16 million hectares, 72.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
South Africa's 83.93 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.90 million hectares, 12.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	85.30 million hectares	83.21 million hectares	89.15 million hectares	9
1970s	82.00 million hectares	81.43 million hectares	82.97 million hectares	10
1980s	81.59 million hectares	81.38 million hectares	82.30 million hectares	10
1990s	83.44 million hectares	82.50 million hectares	83.93 million hectares	10
2000s	83.93 million hectares	83.93 million hectares	83.93 million hectares	10
2010s	83.93 million hectares	83.93 million hectares	83.93 million hectares	10
2020s	83.93 million hectares	83.93 million hectares	83.93 million hectares	4

Countries ranked near South Africa

8 Mongolia 106.32 million hectares compare
9 Russia 92.05 million hectares compare
10 Sudan 91.45 million hectares compare
12 Argentina 74.68 million hectares compare
13 Mexico 74.10 million hectares compare
14 Chad 45.00 million hectares compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa?: Area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa was 83.93 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 area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 89.15 million hectares in 1961.
What is the lowest area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 81.38 million hectares in 1982.
How does South Africa rank for area of permanent meadows and pastures?: South Africa ranks 11th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
Is area of permanent meadows and pastures 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 Area of permanent meadows and pastures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Area of permanent meadows and pastures in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/area-of-permanent-meadows-and-pastures/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Area of permanent meadows and pastures
Unit: hectares
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 210 places, 12,094 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 30 October 2026

This is the land used for livestock grazing. The total land use for livestock farming is higher as it additionally requires cropland used to grow animal feed.