Agricultural land in India
India: Agricultural land was 1.79 million sq. km in 2023. ▬ Flat
Agricultural land in India, 1961–2023
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
India recorded 1.79 million sq. km for agricultural land in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in India peaked at 1.82 million sq. km in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.75 million sq. km, in 1961.
That places India 7th out of 210 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.77 million sq. km | 1.75 million sq. km | 1.78 million sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.79 million sq. km | 1.78 million sq. km | 1.81 million sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.81 million sq. km | 1.80 million sq. km | 1.82 million sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.81 million sq. km | 1.81 million sq. km | 1.82 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.80 million sq. km | 1.80 million sq. km | 1.81 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.79 million sq. km | 1.79 million sq. km | 1.80 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.79 million sq. km | 1.79 million sq. km | 1.79 million sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More agriculture & rural data for India
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
- Rural population 64.3% (2025)
- Rural population growth 0.4% (2025)
- Rural population 941.42 million (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 16.2% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 642.24 billion current US$ (2025)
- Land under cereal production 107.67 million hectares (2024)
- Cereal yield 3,632 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal production 391.12 million metric tons (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in India?
- Agricultural land in India was 1.79 million sq. km in 2023, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest agricultural land recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 1.82 million sq. km in 1991.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.75 million sq. km in 1961.
- How does India rank for agricultural land?
- India ranks 7th out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Agricultural land (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agricultural land refers to the 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.