South Africa: Percent agricultural land

The latest value from 2023 is 79.42 percent, unchanged from 79.42 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 38.14 percent, based on data from 193 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 1961 to 2023 is 79.35 percent. The minimum value, 77.52 percent, was reached in 1981 while the maximum of 83.53 percent was recorded in 1961. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

The data show what percent of the land in South Africa is arable or is used for crops or pasture.

Definition: Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.