What is fao projections of arable land in South Africa?

Fao projections of arable land 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 fao projections of arable land recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 14.20 million hectares in 2000.

What is the lowest fao projections of arable land recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 12.19 million hectares in 1961.

How does South Africa rank for fao projections of arable land?

South Africa ranks 28th out of 224 countries with data for 2023.

Is fao projections of arable 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 (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of FAO projections of arable land. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

FAO projections of arable land in South Africa

Name: FAO projections of arable land 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: FAO projections of arable land 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

1961–2023

FAO projections of arable land 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 fao projections of arable land in South Africa is 12.41 million hectares, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, fao projections of arable land in South Africa peaked at 14.20 million hectares in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.19 million hectares, in 1961.

South Africa ranks 28th of 224 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

FAO projections of arable land in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for FAO projections of arable land in South Africa, 1961 to 2023.
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

25 Tanzania 15.52 million hectares compare
26 Cote d'Ivoire 14.30 million hectares compare
27 Myanmar 12.52 million hectares compare
29 Germany 11.88 million hectares compare
30 Vietnam 11.65 million hectares compare
31 Poland 11.55 million hectares compare

See the full ranking of 225 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 fao projections of arable land in South Africa?: Fao projections of arable land 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 fao projections of arable land recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 14.20 million hectares in 2000.
What is the lowest fao projections of arable land recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 12.19 million hectares in 1961.
How does South Africa rank for fao projections of arable land?: South Africa ranks 28th out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
Is fao projections of arable 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 (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of FAO projections of arable land. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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FAO projections of arable land 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/fao-projections-of-arable-land-to-2050/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: FAO projections of arable land
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: 225 places, 13,015 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 30 October 2026

Land allocated to arable production or permanent crops, measured in hectares. Values from 2030 onwards are FAO's 2018 projections under three different scenarios.