Sources of growth in global agricultural output, 1961–2020

Average annual growth (percent)

Stacked bar chart with 6 groups, 4 bars and 1 total marker per group.

Group 1, 1961–70.
Bar 1, Expansion of agricultural land 0.3.
Bar 2, Extension of irrigation to cropland 0.23.
Bar 3, More inputs per acre 2.19.
Bar 4, Improvements in total factor productivity 0.08.
Marker 1, Total agricultural output growth rate 2.79.
Group 2, 1971–80.
Bar 1, Expansion of agricultural land 0.28.
Bar 2, Extension of irrigation to cropland 0.24.
Bar 3, More inputs per acre 1.22.
Bar 4, Improvements in total factor productivity 0.54.
Marker 1, Total agricultural output growth rate 2.28.
Group 3, 1981–90.
Bar 1, Expansion of agricultural land 0.33.
Bar 2, Extension of irrigation to cropland 0.22.
Bar 3, More inputs per acre 0.79.
Bar 4, Improvements in total factor productivity 0.89.
Marker 1, Total agricultural output growth rate 2.23.
Group 4, 1991–2000.
Bar 1, Expansion of agricultural land 0.08.
Bar 2, Extension of irrigation to cropland 0.23.
Bar 3, More inputs per acre 0.46.
Bar 4, Improvements in total factor productivity 1.72.
Marker 1, Total agricultural output growth rate 2.49.
Group 5, 2001–10.
Bar 1, Expansion of agricultural land 0.15.
Bar 2, Extension of irrigation to cropland 0.17.
Bar 3, More inputs per acre 0.41.
Bar 4, Improvements in total factor productivity 1.99.
Marker 1, Total agricultural output growth rate 2.72.
Group 6, 2011–20.
Bar 1, Expansion of agricultural land 0.32.
Bar 2, Extension of irrigation to cropland 0.14.
Bar 3, More inputs per acre 0.34.
Bar 4, Improvements in total factor productivity 1.12.
Marker 1, Total agricultural output growth rate 1.93.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, International Agricultural Productivity data product. Data and methods as of October 2022.