South Africa: Arable land, percent of land area

The latest value from 2023 is 9.9 percent, unchanged from 9.9 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 14.3 percent, based on data from 192 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 1961 to 2023 is 10.4 percent. The minimum value, 9.9 percent, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 11.4 percent was recorded in 2000. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: 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.