Overview of the Planted Area of Major Crops Nationwide

China is one of the world’s oldest agricultural civilizations, with successive dynasties consistently prioritizing agricultural development and upholding the principle of “establishing the nation through agriculture.” For millennia, China has remained the most populous country in the world, and the growth of its agricultural sector has been the fundamental driver of population expansion.

However, it was only after the founding of the People’s Republic of China that China as a whole first succeeded in resolving the issues of food and clothing. Since the beginning of the 21st century, China’s grain production has remained stable, with output increasing in the vast majority of years; today, per capita grain availability has doubled compared to the level at the time of the PRC’s establishment. Crop cultivation is an essential component of agricultural production. In recent years, the total area under cultivation in China has shown a steady year-on-year increase.

“The total planted area of crops is approximately 2.5 billion mu.”

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s total cropland area increased annually from 2010 to 2016, surpassing 2.4 billion mu in 2011 and 2.5 billion mu in 2015, with a peak of 2.53 billion mu recorded in 2021.

Given that the agricultural sector is highly dependent on land resources, the total area under cultivation is expected to remain stable at around 2.5 billion mu in the coming period.

Trends in the Total Cropland Area of China

(Data source: National Bureau of Statistics; Chart created by Nong Xiaofeng)

Grain planting area: corn > rice > wheat > legumes > tubers

In 2021, the total area planted with grain crops in China was approximately 1.764 billion mu, accounting for about 70% of the country’s total cropland area.

Trends in China’s Grain and Sub‑Sector Agricultural Crop Planting Areas (Unit: 100 million mu)

(Data source: National Bureau of Statistics; Chart created by Nong Xiaofeng)

From a trend perspective, between 2010 and 2021, the planted area for grain and for specific agricultural products in China showed a steady upward trajectory.

In 2021, the ranking of China’s major grain crops by planted area was as follows: corn (650 million mu) > rice (449 million mu) > wheat (354 million mu) > legumes (152 million mu) > tubers (110 million mu).

In 2022, the ranking of planting areas for China’s major food crops was as follows: corn (646 million mu) > rice (442 million mu) > wheat (353 million mu) > beans (178 million mu) > tubers (108 million mu).

Comparison of the Distribution of Planting Areas for Major Food Crops in China, 2021

(Data source: National Bureau of Statistics; Chart created by Nong Xiaofeng)

Vegetable cultivation area: over 300 million mu.

Vegetables are one of the essential components of people’s daily diets and an indispensable part of agricultural production.

In China, vegetables are the crop with the largest cultivated area and the most significant economic importance, aside from food crops. According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2020, the total area planted with vegetables was approximately 322 million mu, accounting for about 12.8% of the country’s total cropland area that year. In 2022, the sown area for vegetables reached 337 million mu, with a total output of roughly 800 million tons.

Trends in China’s Vegetable Cultivation Area

(Data source: National Bureau of Statistics; Chart created by Nong Xiaofeng)

From a trend perspective, since 2010, the national area under vegetable cultivation first increased year by year from 261 million mu to 294 million mu in 2015. In 2016, influenced by adjustments in the industrial structure, it declined slightly to 293 million mu, a drop of approximately 0.31%. Beginning in 2017, the national vegetable‑cultivation area surpassed 300 million mu and maintained a four-year period of steady growth.

Orchard area: nearly 200 million mu

Fruit is the edible reproductive structure of plants. China, with its vast territory spanning the cold, temperate, and tropical zones, boasts abundant fruit tree resources and a wide variety of cultivars, making it one of the world’s major centers of origin for fruit trees. Fruit tree cultivation has a long history, and its horticultural traditions run deep, earning China the well-deserved reputation as the “Mother of Gardens” worldwide.

According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2021, China’s orchard area exceeded 190 million mu, accounting for approximately 7.56% of the country’s total cropland area that year.

Trends in China’s Orchard Area

(Data source: National Bureau of Statistics; Chart created by Nong Xiaofeng)

From a trend perspective, since 2010, the national orchard area has generally exhibited a fluctuating growth pattern, with a slight decline observed between 2015 and 2016. Key milestones show that the area exceeded 170 million mu in 2014, surpassed 180 million mu in 2019, and reached 190 million mu in 2020. Driven by the frequent introduction of policies related to fruits, vegetables, and tea in recent years, the orchard area is expected to break through 200 million mu in the coming period.

Cotton planting area: approximately 50 million mu.

Cotton is the seed fiber of plants belonging to the genus Gossypium within the family Malvaceae, originating in subtropical regions. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2021, China’s total cotton‑cultivation area was approximately 45.42 million mu, accounting for about 1.8% of the country’s total agricultural land. In 2022, the national cotton‑sowing area stood at 45.00 million mu.

Trends in China’s Cotton Cultivation Area

(Data source: National Bureau of Statistics; Chart created by Nong Xiaofeng)

From a trend perspective, since 2010, the national cotton planting area has generally followed a fluctuating downward trajectory, with a peak of 67.8599 million mu in 2011 and a trough of 45.4226 million mu in 2021, yielding a range of approximately 22.4373 million mu. On average, the area has remained around 50 million mu.

Sugar crop cultivation area: approximately 25 million mu.

Sugar crops provide essential raw materials for the sugar industry. The main varieties include sugarcane, sugar beet, and sweet sorghum. In the north, sugar beet predominates, while in the south, sugarcane is the dominant crop. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2021, China’s total area planted with sugar crops was approximately 21.9 million mu, accounting for about 0.87% of the country’s total cropland area.

Trends in China’s Sugar Crop Cultivation Area

(Data source: National Bureau of Statistics; Chart created by Nong Xiaofeng)

From a trend perspective, influenced by nationwide adjustments to the agricultural industrial structure, the national acreage devoted to sugar crops has generally followed a fluctuating downward trajectory since 2010. The peak occurred in 2012 at 28.2987 million mu, while the trough was recorded in 2021 at 21.90 million mu, yielding a range of approximately 6.3987 million mu. Over the years, the total area has typically oscillated around 25 million mu.

Oilseed cultivation area: approximately 200 million mu.

Oilseed crops are a group of plants whose seeds contain high levels of fat and can be processed to produce oils for food, industrial use, or as raw materials in the pharmaceutical sector. Major seed‑based oilseed crops include soybeans, peanuts, rapeseed, sesame, castor bean, sunflower, perilla, and chufa; perennial woody oilseed species comprise coconut, tea oil tree, oil palm, and walnut, among others. Seeds of fiber crops such as cotton, flax, and hemp also contain substantial oil content and serve as important feedstocks for the oil and fat industry. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2021 China’s total area planted with oilseed crops was approximately 197 million mu, accounting for about 7.79% of the country’s total cropland area.

Trends in China’s Oilseed Cultivation Area

(Data source: National Bureau of Statistics; Chart created by Nong Xiaofeng)

From a trend perspective, since 2010, the national acreage of oilseed crops has generally followed a fluctuating downward trajectory, with a peak of 205 million mu in 2010 and a trough of 193 million mu in 2018, representing a range of approximately 12 million mu. Over the years, the total area has remained roughly around 200 million mu.

Source: WeChat Official Account: Seed Industry Knowledge Bureau