Ranking Of Countries With The Most Arable Land (2024)

Countries With The Most Arable Land

The world has 15.749 million km(2) of arable land. (Arable land is land ploughed or tilled regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation).

India has the most arable land in the world followed by the United States, Russia, China and Brazil.

India and the United States account for roughly 22% of the world's arable land.

Ranking Of Countries With The Most Arable Land (1)

In geography and agriculture, arable land (from Latin arare; “To plough, To farm”) is land ploughed or tilled regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation.

According to definitions and survey recommendations by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), used by for example Eurostat and the World Bank, arable land is agricultural land occupied by crops both sown and harvested during the same agricultural year, sometimes more than once. Land is also considered arable if used as temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, market and kitchen gardens; as well as temporarily fallow land — not seeded for one or more growing seasons, yet not left idle for more than five years.

Land use statistics by country - Wikipedia

Ranking Of Countries With The Most Arable Land (2024)

FAQs

Ranking Of Countries With The Most Arable Land? ›

The world has 15.749 million km(2) of arable land. (Arable land is land ploughed or tilled regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation). India has the most arable land in the world followed by the United States, Russia, China and Brazil.

Which country has highest arable land? ›

The world has 15.749 million km(2) of arable land. (Arable land is land ploughed or tilled regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation). India has the most arable land in the world followed by the United States, Russia, China and Brazil.

What are the top 10 most fertile lands in the world? ›

There are 10 countries that have the most fertile lands(soils) in the world. They are: India, Bangladesh, Comoros, Denmark, Gambia, Hungary, Moldova, Rwanda, Togo and Ukraine. Here are the types of soil and the regions they are found in, across the world.

Which large countries have under 15% arable land? ›

➙Click the map URL above to start the map. ➙Click on a country to reveal its pop-up. ? Which large countries have under 15% arable land? [Russia, Canada, Libya, Egypt etc.]

Which country has 0% arable land? ›

Greenland is the largest country with no arable land, while the smallest nation—the small city-state of Vatican City—has none as well. According to the FAO, the world's arable land amounted to 1.38 billion hectares (5.34 million square miles) in 2019.

How much of US land is arable? ›

In 2020, arable land as a share of land area for United States of America was 17.2 %. Arable land as a share of land area of United States of America fell gradually from 20.5 % in 1971 to 17.2 % in 2020.

What country has the richest soil? ›

Found in Ukraine, parts of Russia and the USA, mollisols are some of the world's most fertile soil. This type of soil includes black soils with high organic content.

Where is the richest soil on earth? ›

The most fertile soils on Earth are the so-called black soils or chernozems. These are found in some areas in North America, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia. It took several millennia and a specific climate and steppe vegetation for them to form.

Where is the most fertile land in America? ›

The best states for farmland in the US include Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Kentucky, Wyoming, and California. Consider factors like profitability, cost of operation, infrastructure, and availability when selecting a location.

Which countries own the most US farmland? ›

As demonstrated in Table 1, the top 10 foreign owners of U.S. agricultural land by acres were Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, France, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Ireland. Individuals from these countries own three-quarters of the acres owned by foreigners.

Which country has richest farmers? ›

Most Richest Farmers in the World

Qin Yinglin is a Chinese businessman who founded the Muyuan Foodstuff Company, which is one of China's largest pig breeding and pork processing firms. As of 2021, Qin's net worth is estimated at over $20 billion, making him one of the wealthiest farmers in the world.

What is the largest country with no farms? ›

With a total area of 2.166 million sq km, Greenland is the largest country without forested landmass.

Which country has the best soil? ›

Nearly a quarter of the world's most fertile soil, known as Chernozem, is located in Ukraine. Chernozem is black soil rich in organic matter called 'humus,' which is made up of decomposed plants. More than 65 percent of arable land in Ukraine is composed of Chernozem deposits, making it ideal for farming.

What is the largest arable farm in the world? ›

Did you know the largest farm in the entire world is bigger than 11 U.S. states? This massive farm dairy farm is located in Heilongjiang, China. Mudanjiang City Mega Farm has over 100,000 dairy cows and covers an impressive 22.5 million acres.

What land Cannot be farmed? ›

Non-arable land cannot currently be used for agriculture (due to steep inclines, lack of water, erosion, and a number of other possibilities) or land that is used for permanent agriculture – such as an orchard, which is considered a permanent crop.

Why is US arable land decreasing? ›

Supplying food to this growing population has become a threat. On the other hand, due to industrialization and urbanization, the arable land in the major agricultural countries is declining.

Which country owns the most land? ›

The largest country in the world is Russia with a total area of 17,098,242 Km² (6,601,665 mi²) and a land area of 16,376,870 Km² (6,323,142 mi²), equivalent to 11% of the total world's landmass of 148,940,000 Km² (57,510,000 square miles).

What percentage of US is farmers? ›

Agriculture and its related industries provide 10.5 percent of U.S. employment. In 2021, 21.1 million full- and part-time jobs were related to the agricultural and food sectors—10.5 percent of total U.S. employment.

How much farmland is left in the US? ›

Over the time period displayed, the total farmland area has decreased by almost 50 million acres, reaching a total of 893.4 million acres as of 2022.

What percentage of China is arable land? ›

Arable land (% of land area) in China was reported at 12.68 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.

Which country has cheapest agricultural land? ›

Cheapest Land for Sale in the World: Cameroon. Buying land in Cameroon is available to foreigners but comes with many restrictions. The price of agricultural land is $550 per hectare. Cameroon is an agrarian country, fully self-sufficient in food.

Why is Ukrainian farmland so fertile? ›

Nearly a quarter of the world's most fertile soil, known as Chernozem, is located in Ukraine. Chernozem is black soil rich in organic matter called 'humus,' which is made up of decomposed plants. More than 65 percent of arable land in Ukraine is composed of Chernozem deposits, making it ideal for farming.

Who has the best soil in the US? ›

Mollisols found in the Midwestern U.S. are the best for agriculture due to the grasslands that were present thousands of years ago. These prairies produced strong and fertile soils because after each year, the grasses would breakdown and contribute nutrients to the ground.

Why is Ukrainian soil so fertile? ›

Chernozem is the rich black soil that makes Ukraine one of the most fertile places on Earth. It's a soil that was formed from very fine mineral particles that prehistoric winds carried away from ancient glacial beds. “The wind acted as a huge filter,” says Dr. Léon Hardy, a Canadian geomorphologist in Ukraine.

What is the rarest soil in the world? ›

Serpentine soil is an uncommon soil type produced by weathered ultramafic rock such as peridotite and its metamorphic derivatives such as serpentinite.

Where is the black dirt capital of the world? ›

Conrad, Iowa is the black dirt capital of the world.

Where is the richest soil in us? ›

Iowa has some of the most fertile soils in the world. this “black gold” is found in northeast Iowa's gently rolling terrain, molded by climate, water and plant life.

Is US soil depleted? ›

Summary: A new study shows that, since Euro-American settlement approximately 160 years ago, agricultural fields in the midwestern U.S. have lost, on average, two millimeters of soil per year. This is nearly double the rate of erosion that the USDA considers sustainable.

What is the best soil in the world? ›

About Black Soils

Black soils are characterized by a very dark-colored topsoil, rich in soil organic carbon. They are amongst the most productive and fertile soils in the world.

What is the cheapest state to buy a farm? ›

Oklahoma. Oklahoma currently sits at the lowest cost per acre among the best states for farmland in the US, so this is another state to consider when looking to buy land for agricultural purposes.

What foreign country owns the most land in the USA? ›

In a study of USDA reports, Pew found the foreign country that owns the most U.S. land is not China or Russia, but rather, our neighbors north: Canada. Investors from the Great White North, according to the USDA, own about 12.8 million acres of U.S. land, most of it forest land.

Who owns the most land in America? ›

The 2022 Land Report 100, compiled each year by The Land Report magazine, released its annual list of landowners who own the most acres in the United States. The nation's largest private landowners are the Emmerson family in California who own over 2.4 million acres.

Why did China buy land in North Dakota? ›

Recent reporting shows that a CCP-affiliated corporation purchased farmland in North Dakota that is just a stone's throw from high-capability military bases. The purchase raises the possibility that the Chinese government could use the farmland as a launching pad for espionage under the guise of operating a business.

Which country is most farmer friendly? ›

France, Croatia, and Czech Republic received the highest scores globally, showcasing good regulatory practices as well as efficient administrative processes across a number of indicators.

Who is the biggest farmer in America? ›

Bill Gates

Which country has best agriculture system? ›

Top 20 agricultural producing countries in the world
  • China. China is the world's largest rice, wheat, and potato producer. ...
  • India. India is the world's second-largest agriculture producer, behind only China. ...
  • United States. ...
  • Brazil. ...
  • Russia. ...
  • Mexico. ...
  • Indonesia. ...
  • Turkey.
Dec 10, 2022

Which country farms the most food? ›

The 4 Top Food-Producing countries:
  1. China. China is the world's biggest producer, importer, and consumer of food. ...
  2. India. In terms of total calorie content, India is the second-largest food producer in the world. ...
  3. The United States. ...
  4. Brazil.

What state has the most farmers? ›

Texas had the most farms in the United States in 2021 followed by Missouri and Iowa.

Are the number of farms in the US decreasing? ›

Total land in farms decreased 1.9 million acres to 893,400,000 acres in 2022 versus 2021. Here is other noteworthy farmland data, courtesy of USDA's Farms and Land in Farms 2022 Summary. 2.003 million: The number of U.S. farms, which is down 9,350 farms from 2021.

Does the US have rich soil? ›

Known for some of the richest soil in the US, the Midwest is home to some of the most productive agricultural soil in North America. According to the USDA, the US contains only about 5% of the world's population, but it provides more than 25% of the world's food supply.

Does North America have rich soil? ›

North America benefits greatly from its fertile soils, plentiful freshwater, oil and mineral deposits, and forests. With a strong domestic and export economy focused on this abundant array of natural resources, North America has become one of the most developed regions in the world.

Where is the poorest soil in the world? ›

The humus layer, which is that dark, organic stuff in the soil that develops when plants or animal matter break down, is minimal nearly everywhere. The soil in the Amazon rainforest is the poorest and most infertile in the world.

Who owns the biggest farm in America? ›

The Microsoft co-founder is considered the largest private owner of farmland in the country with some 269,000 acres across dozens of states, according to last year's edition of the Land Report 100, an annual survey of the nation's largest landowners.

What is the farming capital of the world? ›

Producing nearly $7.9 billion worth of agriculture in 2018, Fresno County edged out Kern County ($7.47 billion) for the coveted crown. “According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 'Over a third of the country's vegetables and two-thirds of the country's fruits and nuts are grown in California.

Which countries have over 60% arable land? ›

Using the World Agricultural Lands legend, which countries have over 60% arable land? [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, India, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia] ?

Is there enough land to feed the world? ›

Earth is a pretty big place, but it's not as big as our appetite. That's the conclusion of a new study by researchers in Canada, who calculated that if the entire world population tried to eat what the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) actually recommends, we wouldn't have enough farms to feed everybody.

Why is farmland disappearing? ›

The continued growth of urban development and what the organization calls low-density residential development are eating away at some of the most productive farmland in the world.

Why is farmland bad for the environment? ›

Agriculture is the leading source of pollution in many countries. Pesticides, fertilizers and other toxic farm chemicals can poison fresh water, marine ecosystems, air and soil. They also can remain in the environment for generations.

What country has the highest agricultural density? ›

Singapore has the highest agricultural density of any country in the world.

What is the biggest arable farm? ›

Elveden is a 22,500 acre country estate, of which over 10,000 acres is farmland. This makes us the largest ring-fenced arable farm in lowland Britain. The land at Elveden was transformed for agricultural use in 1927 by Rupert Guinness, great great grandson of Arthur Guinness (founder of the Guinness brewery.)

What country has the most fertile farmland? ›

Found in Ukraine, parts of Russia and the USA, mollisols are some of the world's most fertile soil. This type of soil includes black soils with high organic content. Vertisols – 2.5% of the world's ice-free land. This type of soil is found in India, Australia, sub-Saharan Africa, and South America.

What is the largest farm in America? ›

25,000 acres of farmland in SW Arkansas – That's almost twice the size of Manhattan! Goldcrest Farms, one of the largest farms in the US, is located in Miller County, Arkansas, along the riverbanks of the Red River and 28 miles from Texarkana and Interstate 30.

Where in the USA has the best soil? ›

The best states for farmland in the US include Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Kentucky, Wyoming, and California. Consider factors like profitability, cost of operation, infrastructure, and availability when selecting a location.

Where is the most fertile soil in the US? ›

Mollisols found in the Midwestern U.S. are the best for agriculture due to the grasslands that were present thousands of years ago. These prairies produced strong and fertile soils because after each year, the grasses would breakdown and contribute nutrients to the ground.

Does the US have a low agricultural density? ›

The agricultural density of the U.S. is 0.471 hectares per person.

What is the US agricultural density? ›

For example, the United States has an extremely low agricul- tural density (1 farmer per square kilometer of arable land), whereas Egypt has a very high density (826 farmers per square kilometer of arable land).

Which country most likely has an advanced economy? ›

Top 25 Countries and Economies by GDP per Capita (2021)
Rank1
CountrySwitzerland
GDP per Capita$91,991.6
Rank7
CountryNorway
94 more rows

Which US states have the most arable land? ›

The United States had 895.3 million acres of land in farms in 2021. The United States had 895.3 million acres of land in farms in 2021. Texas had the most land in farms in the United States in 2021 followed by Montana and Kansas. Texas accounted for more than 14% of the land in farms in the United States in 2021.

Which state in the US has the most arable land? ›

Considering those parameters, here are the top 10 states with the highest principal crop area planted in 2022:
  • Texas (22.261 million acres)
  • Nebraska (19.697 million acres)
  • Minnesota (19.351 million acres)
  • South Dakota (17.080 million acres)
  • Missouri (14.319 million acres)
  • Indiana (11.850 million acres)

Which country produces the most food? ›

The 4 Top Food-Producing countries:
  1. China. China is the world's biggest producer, importer, and consumer of food. ...
  2. India. In terms of total calorie content, India is the second-largest food producer in the world. ...
  3. The United States. ...
  4. Brazil.

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