Islamabad, Aug 7, 2025: The 7th Agriculture and Livestock Census 2024 has revealed a significant shift in Pakistan’s agricultural landscape, showing that 97% of farmers now own less than 12.5 acres of land. This marks a sharp decline in average farm size, which has dropped from 6.4 acres in 2010 to just 5.1 acres in 2024, highlighting growing land fragmentation across the country.
According to the census data, only 16,958 landlords own more than 100 acres each, yet they control 6.2% of total farmland, averaging 215 acres per landowner. Meanwhile, small-scale landholdings are on the rise, with 61% of farmers now owning less than 2.5 acres, up from 40% in 2010. The percentage of farmers with less than 1 acre has also surged from 15% to 26%.
The total number of farms in Pakistan has grown to 11.7 million, compared to 8.3 million in 2010. A significant shift toward owner-operated farms is evident, with their number rising to 10.4 million, while tenancy-based farms have declined sharply.
While the total farm area has increased from 52.9 million to 59.3 million acres, and cultivated land has expanded from 42.6 to 52.8 million acres, the average cultivated area per farm has dropped to 4.5 acres, down from 5.2 acres.
Punjab Tops Farm Numbers Despite Urban Pressure
Punjab continues to lead with 5.1 million farms, although the province has lost around 217,000 farms since 2010 due to rapid urbanization. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa follows with 4.2 million farms, Sindh has 1.8 million, and Balochistan hosts 630,000. The capital, Islamabad, recorded 16,589 mostly owner-operated farms.
Shift from Rain-Fed to Irrigated Agriculture
The census also reports an increase in irrigated land, now totaling 45.9 million acres, with canal irrigation rising from 12.3 million acres in 2010 to 14.4 million. In contrast, rain-fed farming has plummeted from 8.4 million to just 4.9 million acres, reflecting a nationwide shift toward more controlled water use in agriculture.
The total cropped area has increased significantly to 82.8 million acres, fueled by multi-season cropping patterns. Wheat remains Pakistan’s dominant crop, while the share of cotton has decreased, possibly due to climate and market changes.
Livestock Sector Records Steady Growth
Pakistan’s livestock population has climbed to 251.3 million in 2024, growing at an annual rate of 3.1%. Punjab leads with 104 million animals, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (48.7 million) and Balochistan (47.9 million). In the arid regions of Balochistan, sheep continue to dominate due to their adaptability to harsh grazing environments.
Read More: Engro Fertilizers Reports PKR 8.5bn Earnings
The Pakistan agriculture land ownership 2024 data reveals deep structural changes in the sector. With a rising number of smallholders and shrinking per-farm cultivation, the challenges for food security, land reform, and irrigation efficiency have become more urgent than ever.
