Tobacco Industry: Area of Harvested Tobacco, by year
YearArea harvested,
in hectares
20223,136,777
20213,172,240
20203,174,371
20193,336,973
20183,268,951
20173,380,798
20163,542,364
20153,691,892
20144,014,054
20134,249,490
20124,169,669
20114,216,505
20103,949,280
20093,976,137
20083,779,374
20073,599,386
20063,844,247
20053,980,987
20043,905,549
20033,798,424
20023,922,433
20013,841,951
20004,167,004
19954,159,499
19904,646,021
19854,694,860
19803,897,572
  • Region: Worldwide
  • Time period: 1980 to 2022
  • Published: Feb 2024

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 28, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Overall Decline in Tobacco Harvesting Area

The area harvested for tobacco worldwide has seen a significant decrease, from a peak of 4,694,860 hectares in 1985 to 3,136,777 hectares in 2022, indicating a substantial overall decline in tobacco cultivation over the decades.

Decade-wise Analysis Reveals Fluctuating Trends

Comparing data at the start of each decade, the area harvested for tobacco showed varying trends: a decline from 4,646,021 hectares in 1990 to 3,897,572 hectares in 1980, followed by an increase to 4,694,860 hectares in 1985, and then a consistent decline to 3,136,777 hectares in 2022.

Sharpest Decline Observed in Recent Years

The period from 2014 to 2022 witnessed the sharpest decrease in the area harvested for tobacco, dropping from 4,014,054 hectares to 3,136,777 hectares, reflecting the impact of global anti-tobacco campaigns and changing agricultural priorities.

Highest Recorded Area in Mid-1980s

The highest area harvested for tobacco was recorded in 1985, at 4,694,860 hectares, highlighting the peak of tobacco cultivation before the gradual decline influenced by health awareness and regulatory measures.

Consistent Decrease in the 21st Century

Since the turn of the century, the area harvested for tobacco has consistently decreased, from 4,167,004 hectares in 2000 to 3,136,777 hectares in 2022, underscoring a steady move away from tobacco cultivation in recent decades.

Stabilization in the Early 2020s

The data shows a slight stabilization in the area harvested for tobacco in the early 2020s, with a minor fluctuation between 3,174,240 hectares in 2021 and 3,174,371 hectares in 2020, before a slight decline in 2022.

Historical Highs Compared to Recent Lows

Comparing historical highs to recent lows, the area harvested in 1985 was approximately 1.5 times larger than the area harvested in 2022, demonstrating the significant reduction in tobacco cultivation space over nearly four decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

How has the area harvested for tobacco worldwide changed from 1985 to 2022?

The area harvested for tobacco worldwide has decreased significantly from 4,694,860 hectares in 1985 to 3,136,777 hectares in 2022.

What were the fluctuations in harvested areas for tobacco at the start of each decade?

There was a decline from 4,646,021 hectares in 1990 to 3,897,572 hectares in 1980, an increase to 4,694,860 hectares in 1985, and then a consistent decline to 3,136,777 hectares in 2022.

When was the sharpest decrease in area harvested for tobacco observed?

The sharpest decrease in tobacco harvest area occurred from 2014 to 2022, dropping from 4,014,054 hectares to 3,136,777 hectares.

Terms and Definitions

The tobacco industry refers to the companies that are involved in the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of tobacco products. It includes entities that grow tobacco plants, process the leaves for use, produce tobacco goods, and distribute these commercial commodities in the marketplace.

Area of harvested tobacco refers to the total amount of land (measured in hectares, acres, or any other unit of area) where tobacco has been grown and harvested in a particular period. It does not take into consideration whether the land can be re-used for another cycle of cropping.

Harvest refers to the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. In the context of tobacco, it means collecting the leaves when they are ripe. The timing of harvest affects the quality of the tobacco and is crucial in its commercial value.

Tobacco refers to the product prepared from the leaves of the Nicotiana tabacum plant. It is consumed in various forms such as cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, etc., mainly for its nicotine content, which is an addictive stimulant.

Crop year refers to the period during which one full growing cycle of a crop takes place. For tobacco, it usually starts with planting or sowing and ends with the final harvest. It is used to track and analyze agricultural production patterns over time.

A hectare is a unit of area measurement equal to 10,000 square meters, used in the metric system. It is commonly used worldwide in the context of land measurement for agriculture, forestry, and land planning.

In agriculture, yield refers to the amount of crop produced per unit of land area. It is usually reported in tons or kilograms per hectare or acre and demonstrates the productivity of a piece of farmland.

Nicotine is a naturally occurring compound in the tobacco plant. It is a potent parasympathomimetic stimulant, responsible for the addictive properties of tobacco products. Public health concerns associated with nicotine consumption include cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and other health issues.

An acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. One acre is approximately 0.405 hectares and is used in countries where these measuring systems are in place, such as the United States, United Kingdom, and others.
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