South Korea’s Arable Land Shrinks to 1.5 Million Hectares in 2025
Updated (2 articles)
Arable Land Measured at 1.5 Million Hectares South Korea’s Ministry of Data and Statistics reported that total arable land reached 1.50 million hectares at the end of 2025, a 0.3 percent decline from 2024 [1]. This marks the thirteenth consecutive year of reduction since 2013, continuing a long‑term downward trend [1]. The ministry attributes the shrinkage primarily to decreasing domestic rice consumption, which alters farmers’ land‑use decisions [1].
Rice Paddy Area Continues to Contract Rice‑paddy acreage fell to 755,952 hectares in 2025, a 0.7 percent year‑on‑year drop [1]. Paddy fields now comprise 50.4 percent of all arable land, down 0.2 percentage points from the previous year [1]. The reduction reflects broader shifts in Korean dietary preferences away from traditional rice toward imported grains and processed foods [1].
Satellite Imagery Underpins 2025 Land Assessment The ministry derived the 2025 figures by analysing satellite images captured between May and November [1]. This remote‑sensing approach allowed precise mapping of cultivated versus fallow areas across the country [1]. The methodology ensures consistency with previous annual reports, facilitating reliable trend analysis [1].
Changing Diets Drive Decline in Cultivated Land Officials link the ongoing loss of arable land to a sustained decline in rice consumption, which reduces demand for domestic production [1]. As Korean diets incorporate more imported staples, farmers are increasingly abandoning paddy fields in favor of alternative land uses or leaving them idle [1]. The ministry warns that continued dietary shifts could accelerate the loss of productive farmland [1].
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Timeline
1962 – The Ministry of Data and Statistics begins tracking per‑capita rice consumption, establishing a baseline for future trend analysis [2].
1995 – South Koreans consume 117.9 kg of rice per person, roughly double the 2025 level, highlighting the long‑term decline in staple grain demand [2].
2013 – South Korea experiences the first year of a continuous drop in total arable land, initiating a 13‑year downward streak that persists through 2025 [1].
2024 – Arable land measures approximately 1.504 million hectares and per‑capita rice consumption stands at about 64.4 kg, setting the reference points for the 2025 declines reported later [1][2].
May–Nov 2025 – Satellite imagery maps cultivated fields, revealing that total arable land shrinks to 1.50 million hectares, a 0.3 % drop from 2024, and rice‑paddy area contracts to 755,952 ha (50.4 % of arable land) [1].
2025 – Per‑capita rice consumption reaches a record low of 62.5 kg, down 3 % from 2024 and half the 1995 figure, underscoring the shift toward wheat and processed foods [2].
2025 – Food and beverage manufacturers increase rice usage to 931,201 tons, a 6.7 % year‑on‑year rise, even as overall domestic demand falls, reflecting industry adaptation to changing consumer preferences [2].
2025 – Officials attribute the shrinking rice‑paddy area and overall arable land loss to declining rice consumption and diet changes that favor imported grains, prompting farmers to abandon fields and convert land to other uses [1].