Agricultural landforms the backbone of global food production, covering more than 18 million square miles worldwide. A new ranking based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank highlights the countries with the largest agricultural land areas.

The data shows that China leads the world with about 2.0 million square miles of agricultural land, followed by United States, Australia, Brazil and Russia.

Top 10 Countries with the Most Agricultural Land

1. China – 2,009,326 sq. miles
2. United States – 1,627,576 sq. miles
3. Australia – 1,402,492 sq. miles
4. Brazil – 914,131 sq. miles
5. Russia – 832,826 sq. miles
6. Kazakhstan – 827,284 sq. miles
7. India – 689,466 sq. miles
8. Saudi Arabia – 670,418 sq. miles
9. Argentina – 448,405 sq. miles
10. Sudan – 435,002 sq. miles

Why China Leads in Agricultural Land

Despite having a smaller total land area than some countries, China has the largest agricultural footprint globally, with roughly one-fifth of its population working in agriculture. The country is also one of the world’s biggest producers and consumers of agricultural products.

Large countries such as Canada and Russia have vast territories but less agricultural land due to tundra, frozen soils and harsh climates.

Major Global Agricultural Producers

• The world’s largest agricultural landholders are also key global food producers.
• The United States is the largest producer of corn globally.
• Brazil leads in soybean and sugarcane production.
• Australia is a major wheat and cereals exporter.
• Meanwhile, countries such as India and Ukraine remain important global grain producers.

Africa’s Agricultural Land and Climate Challenges

African countries make up nearly half of the top 50 nations with the most agricultural land. Leading countries on the continent include Sudan, South Africa and Nigeria.

However, agriculture across Africa faces increasing pressure from climate change and desertification, particularly in the Sahel region. Rising temperatures, soil degradation and overgrazing are contributing to declining land productivity in some areas.

As climate patterns continue to shift, experts warn that global agricultural geography could change, with northern regions potentially becoming more suitable for farming while some existing agricultural zones face greater environmental stress.