Arable land is land under temporary agricultural crops, temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens, and land temporarily left fallow. It does not include land under permanent crops, land that is potentially cultivable but not yet cultivated, permanent pastures, or forests. The table below lists the top 10 countries with the largest arable land areas in the world.
Top 10 countries with the largest arable land area
| Rank | Country | Arable land area in hectare (ha) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 153,868,700 |
| 2 | United States | 151,563,525 |
| 3 | Russia | 121,649,000 |
| 4 | China | 108,427,100 |
| 5 | Brazil | 55,642,000 |
| 6 | Argentina | 40,387,343 |
| 7 | Canada | 38,151,000 |
| 8 | Nigeria | 36,872,000 |
| 9 | Ukraine | 32,924,000 |
| 10 | Australia | 30,989,678 |
​Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2023
(Also read: Top 10 Most Forested Countries in the World)
​India: The Global Leader in Arable Wealth
Despite being the seventh-largest country by total area, India ranks number one in arable land area globally. Thanks to the massive Indo-Gangetic plains, fertile alluvial soil, and a dependable monsoon network, India is among the top producers of rice, wheat, and many other important crops.
​United States
The United States sits closely at second place. Much of its cropland is concentrated in the fertile Corn Belt and the Great Plains, where rich soils, favorable growing conditions, and highly mechanized farming support large-scale agriculture. As a result, the United States is one of the world’s leading producers of corn, soybeans, wheat, and many other crops.
​Russia
Russia has one of the world’s largest areas of arable land. However, due to its northern location and vast expanses of cold climate, arable land accounts for less than 10% of the country’s total land area. Most farming is concentrated in the country’s southern and southwestern regions, where the climate and fertile soils are more suitable for agriculture.
Why don’t Canada and Australia rank higher?
Canada is the second-largest country on Earth, yet only a small percentage of its land is arable. The massive Canadian Shield covers the nation in rocky terrain and permafrost, squeezing most Canadian agriculture into southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Despite being one of the world’s largest countries, Australia does not rank higher in arable land because much of its territory is covered by deserts and other arid or semi-arid landscapes with low rainfall and poor soils. Only about 4% of Australia’s total land area is classified as arable land.
Ukraine
More than half of Ukraine’s land is classified as arable, giving it one of the highest proportions of arable land in the world. Its fertile black soils and favorable climate have made the country one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions.