Data from August 2026

Planned update: October 2028 (with data from the Farm Structure Survey 2026)

Agri-environmental indicator - cropping patterns

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Data from August 2026

Planned update: October 2028 (with data from the Farm Structure Survey 2026)

Highlights

Of the 156.2 million hectares (ha) of land in the EU used for agricultural production in 2023, 97.7 million ha were farmed as arable land, 47.2 million ha as permanent grassland, 11.1 million ha as permanent crops, with the remainder as kitchen gardens.

The amount of land used in the EU for agricultural production in 2023 was 2.7 million hectares less than in 2010 (equivalent to -1.7 %), underpinned by 2.8 million fewer hectares (-5.6 %) of permanent grassland.

Source:Statistical Atlas

This article provides data on the European Union (EU) agri-environmental indicator cropping patterns. It consists of an overview of data, complemented by information needed to interpret these data. The indicator on cropping patterns is part of a set of indicators, providing a comprehensive picture of the integration of environmental concerns into the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).


Analysis of cropping patterns at EU level

Cropping patterns in 2023: arable land accounted for a majority of the EU's UAA

The area used for agricultural production, known as the total utilised agricultural area (UAA), was 156.2 million hectares in 2023 across the EU as a whole. In 2023, arable land covered 97.7 million hectares in the EU, accounting for a large majority of the utilised agricultural area (equivalent to 62.5% - see Figure 1). Permanent grassland covered a further 47.2 million hectares (30.2%), with permanent crops (including orchards, citrus and olive groves and vines) covering 11.1 million hectares (7.2%), and kitchen gardens about 0.2 million hectares (0.1%).


a doughnut chart showing the type of agricultural land cover as a percentage share of utilised agricultural area in the EU in the year 2023. The segments show permanent crops, kitchen gardens, arable land, permanent grassland. For more details please use the link to the source dataset code below the image.
Figure 1: Type of agricultural land cover
(% share of utilised agricultural area, EU, 2023)
Source: Eurostat (ef_fsi_lus)


Trend in cropping patterns towards less permanent grassland and more permanent crops

Between 2010 and 2023, there was an overall reduction in utilised agricultural area in the EU of 2.7 million hectares (equivalent to -1.7%). This was underpinned by a decline of 2.8 million hectares in the area of permanent grassland (-5.6%). The area of arable land was relatively unchanged, with a modest decline of 0.3 million hectares (-0.3%). By contrast, there was a modest increase of 0.5 million hectares (+4.9%) in the area of land used for permanent crops.

Arable land

Although for the EU as a whole the area covered by arable land fell only slightly between 2010 and 2023 (-0.3% to 97.7 million hectares), there were considerable differences in developments between EU countries (see Figure 2).

There were 4 countries for which the area of arable land increased by more than 10%: Ireland (+32.4%), Latvia (+21.2%), Cyprus (+16.2%) and Estonia (+10.5%). By contrast, there were 3 countries for which the area of arable land decreased by more than 20%: Portugal (-27.6%), Greece (-21.1%) and Malta (-20.2%).

In Portugal, whilst there was a decline in arable land, there was a corresponding rise in the area of permanent grassland. In Greece, the decline in arable land was part of a general decrease in its utilised agricultural area. In Ireland, the growth in arable land is explained by a rise in temporary grassland.

a bar chart showing the increase/decrease of arable land area as a percentage change in the EU and in each EU country between the years 2010 and 2023. For more details please use the link to the source dataset code below the image.
Figure 2: Developments in arable land area
Source: Eurostat (ef_fsi_lus)


Analysis of cropping patterns at country level

Largest shares of EU agricultural land are in France and Spain

In 2023, about two-thirds (68.4%) of the EU's UAA was farmed across 6 countries: France (27.2 million ha, the equivalent of 17.4% of the EU total), Spain (23.5 million ha or 15.0%), Germany (16.6 million ha, or 10.6%), Poland (14.6 million ha, or 9.3%), Romania (12.6 million ha, or 8.0%) and Italy (12.4 million ha, or 7.9%). No other EU country had more than 6.0 million ha of UAA (see Figure 3).

a doughnut chart showing the percentage share of the EU's utilised agricultural area in EU countries. For more details please use the link to the source dataset code below the image.
Figure 3: Utilised agricultural area
(% share of EU total, 2023)
Source: Eurostat (ef_fsi_lus)


France had more hectares of arable land and permanent grassland than other EU countries, Spain more hectares of permanent crops

France had 17.0 million ha of arable land in 2023, the equivalent of 17.4% of the EU's total arable land. Germany had 11.7 million ha (12.0%) of arable land, while Spain had 11.5 million ha (11.8%) and Poland 11.2 million ha (11.4%). These 4 EU countries accounted for just over one half (52.6%) of the EU's arable land.

France also had 9.2 million ha of permanent grassland in 2023, the equivalent of 19.5% of the EU's total permanent grassland area. Spain had 7.3 million ha (15.5%) of permanent grassland, Germany 4.7 million ha (10.0%), Ireland had 3.7 million ha (7.9%) and Romania had 3.6 million ha (7.7%). These 5 EU countries accounted for about 60% of the EU total area of permanent grassland.

Spain had 4.6 million ha of permanent crops in 2023, the equivalent of 41.1% of the EU total. Italy had 2.3 million ha (20.8%) of permanent crops, France 1.0 million ha (9.1%), Portugal and Greece 0.9 million ha each. Together, the 5 countries accounted for 86.6% of the EU's permanent crops area.

UAA in Finland and Denmark dominated by arable land and in Ireland by permanent grassland

How much land countries dedicate to arable land, permanent grassland and permanent crops varies considerably and can be influenced, among other things, by climatic, topographic and agronomic factors. In 2023, 8 EU countries used three-quarters or more of their respective UAA as arable land, with the highest values recorded for Finland and Denmark (99.2% and 89.8% of their UAA respectively). The lowest share of arable land (22.0% of the UAA) was in Portugal (see Figure 4).

a horizontal stacked bar chart showing the type of agricultural land use as a percentage share of utilised agricultural area in EU countries in the year 2023. The stacks show arable land, permanent grassland, permanent crops and kitchen gardens. For more details please use the link to the source dataset code below the image.
Figure 4: Type of agricultural land use
Source: Eurostat (ef_fsi_lus)


Several EU countries with low shares of arable land reported high shares of permanent grassland. By far the highest share was in Ireland (73.5%). Other countries where permanent grassland covered more than half of the UAA included Slovenia (58.3%), Portugal (54.4%) and Luxembourg (52.4%). By contrast, less than 2% of the UAA was occupied by permanent grassland in Malta, Finland and Cyprus.

Mediterranean countries tended to have higher proportions of UAA as permanent crops; the shares ranged from 11.7% of UAA in Malta to 23.3% in Portugal, with Italy, Spain, Greece and Cyprus in between. The share of permanent crops in UAA was less than 2% in 12 EU countries.

Crop diversity of arable land in the EU

Majority of agricultural holdings with arable land grow more than one type of arable land crops

Crop diversity is an important characteristic of agricultural production systems, as it can contribute to the resilience of farming, support biodiversity and influence the sustainable use of natural resources. The analysis presented here focuses on crop diversity within arable land, based on crops considered at a detailed level of classification.

In 2023, slightly more than one half (55.6%) of the EU's holdings with arable land crops, grew two or more different crops. Of the 5.9 million holdings with arable land, 2.6 million (44.4%) grew only 1 crop, 1.3 million (22.2%) grew 2 crops, 0.8 million (14.0%) grew 3 crops, and 1.2 million (19.5%) grew more than 3 crops.

Luxembourg (70.7%) Austria (62.0%) and Germany (59.8%) were the three countries where the share of holdings with arable land growing more than 3 crops was highest. By contrast, Cyprus (5.0%), Malta (3.9%) and Ireland (2.9%) were the three countries where this share was lowest (see Figure 5).

a horizontal stacked bar chart showing the share of agricultural holdings with arable crops according to the number of different arable crops grown in 2023; the stacks show the share of 1 crop holdings, the share of 2 crop holdings, the share of 3 crop holdings and the share of holdings with more than 3 crops. For more details please use the link to the source dataset code below the image.
Figure 5: Crop diversity
(% share of number of crops, EU countries, 2023)
Source: Eurostat (ef_fsi_cdiv)


Source data for tables and graphs

Excel Download Excel file

Data sources

Indicator definition

Cropping patterns are defined as trends in the share of the utilised agricultural area (UAA) occupied by the main agricultural land cover types (arable land, permanent grassland, permanent crops and kitchen gardens), and they are measured by the following indicators:

Main indicator

  • Share (%) of main agricultural land cover types (arable land, permanent grassland, land under permanent crops and kitchen gardens) in total UAA.

Supporting indicator

  • Areas (in hectares) occupied by arable crops, permanent grassland, permanent crops and kitchen gardens.

Links with other indicators

This indicator has links to a number of other AEI indicators that describe developments in some of the main contributory factors.

Data used

In this article, cropping patterns are described on the basis of farm structure data. Farm structure data are collected from agricultural censuses every ten years and from sample surveys every 3 or 4 years in between. These surveys are conducted consistently throughout the EU under the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 on Integrated Farm Statistics, providing comparable and representative statistics on livestock and land use across countries and time, at regional level.

The unit underlying the farm structure data collections is the agricultural holding, a technical-economic unit under single management engaged in agricultural production. A range of different physical thresholds have been used to define the coverage of farm structure surveys, with an impact on the comparability of data across time. More information about the thresholds and their impact on comparability can be found in the background article Farm structure survey – impact of changes in coverage.

The implementation of the Integrated Farm Statistics (IFS) in 2020 introduced a division of the target population into two components: the ‘main frame’ includes agricultural holdings above physical thresholds defined in the legislation, while the ‘frame extension’ covers smaller holdings below these thresholds. In the legislative framework, data collection requirements for below-threshold units vary across time. This variability leads to gaps in data availability for the entire population of agricultural holdings and poses challenges for the comparability of results. To address this issue, an estimation procedure based on imputation techniques applied at the level of microdata has been developed to produce consistent estimates for below-threshold units where data are missing, which have been published in the Eurobase datasets under Farm structural indicators [ef_fsi]. More information about the estimation of missing data in IFS can be found in the article Farm structure - estimation of missing data.

Methodology

The utilised agricultural area (UAA) is the total area taken up by arable land (including temporary grassland and fallow land), permanent grassland, permanent crops and kitchen gardens. It should be noted that common land is included in farm structure data collections in some countries and this has an impact on data on land cover.

Arable land in agricultural statistics is land worked (ploughed or tilled) regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation.

Permanent grassland is land used permanently (for several consecutive years, usually 5 or more years) to grow herbaceous forage crops and not included in the crop rotation scheme on the agricultural holding. Permanent grassland can be used for grazing by livestock or mown for hay, silage (stocking in a silo) or used for renewable energy production.

Permanent crops are ligneous crops, meaning trees or shrubs, not grown in rotation, but occupying the soil and yielding harvests for several (usually more than five) consecutive years. Permanent crops mainly consist of fruit and berry trees, bushes, vines and olive trees. Permanent crops are usually intended for human consumption and generally yield a higher added value per hectare than annual crops. They also play an important role in shaping the rural landscape (through orchards, citrus groves, vineyards and olive tree plantations) and helping to balance agriculture within the environment.


Context

Introduction

Cropping patterns provide insights into the relationship between the environmental conditions and farming systems across the EU. They reflect how agricultural land is allocated among different crop types and land cover, including arable crops (such as cereals, oilseeds, protein crops and fodder crops), permanent crops (including fruit plantations, olive groves and vineyards) and permanent grassland.

Cropping patterns vary considerably across the EU as a result of differences in climate, soils, topography, water availability, farm structure and market conditions. They also evolve over time in response to technological developments, policy measures and changing economic and environmental conditions. Monitoring changes in cropping patterns helps assess the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems and supports the evaluation of agricultural, environmental and climate policies.

Policy relevance

Cropping patterns are influenced by a wide range of interacting drivers, including policy measures. The [Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)] remains one of the principal policy frameworks influencing cropping patterns in the EU. Under the CAP 2023–2027, Member States implement CAP Strategic Plans that combine EU-wide objectives with interventions tailored to national and regional conditions. Consequently, the influence of the CAP on cropping patterns varies across Member States.

Several CAP instruments directly or indirectly affect cropping patterns. These include enhanced conditionality requirements and eco-schemes, which encourage farming practices that comply high EU standards for public, plant, and animal health and welfare and that contribute to EU climate targets, as well as support to organic farming and to areas with natural constraints (ANC).

Other EU policies also influence cropping patterns. The Water Framework Directive and the Nitrates Directive should be noted, including requirements such as growing catch crops in designated areas. Legislation underpinning the Natura 2000 network of protected areas (the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive) limit human activities to ensure that the sites are managed in a manner compatible with the conservation objectives of protected habitats and species.

Changes in cropping patterns also have an impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As such, they are relevant for achieving the climate-neutrality objectives set into the European Climate Law and the carbon-removal targets of the revised Regulation on land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). Land management decisions, particularly regarding permanent grasslands and cropland management, influence greenhouse gas emissions and carbon removals. More broadly, cropping patterns contribute to the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and wider efforts to increase the resilience and sustainability of European food production.

Agri-environmental context

Cropping patterns are strongly linked to the way natural resources (soil, water, air, biodiversity) are managed and impacted by management practices. Many of the current land cover/use patterns have developed over centuries and still shape agricultural landscapes today.

In general, agriculture is more sustainable when dominance of one or a few crops (mono-cropping) is avoided, since this can be associated with a reduction of the supply of eco-system services.[1][2][3] Mosaic landscapes often have high landscape and biodiversity values. Crop diversification can increase resilience of agricultural systems[4] and support beneficial insects providing biological control, thus reducing the dependence on insecticides[5] .Adopting crop rotations leads to positive environmental impacts and at the same time global improvement of soil productivity in the long term, which increases yields[6]. Permanent grassland has high recognition, due to the substantial role it plays in landscape and nature conservation [7][8][9]. Semi-natural grasslands are among the areas with the richest biodiversity in the EU (e.g. wooded meadows of Estonia). However, in the most intensive permanent pastures farmers re-seed with selectively bred cultivars of grass and other fodder species and may use mineral fertilisers and herbicides. This allows farmers to achieve high yields, but with little associated biodiversity value. There are negative impacts on climate change of this type of intensive grassland, when compared to more extensive permanent grassland.

Under CAP’s conditionality requirements, farmers must maintain permanent grasslands, and in environmentally sensitive zones, converting and ploughing these lands is prohibited, recognising their importance for biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation.

Footnotes

  1. Grab, H., Danforth, B., Poveda, K., & Loeb, G. (2018). Landscape simplification reduces classical biological control and crop yield. Ecological Applications, 28(2), 348-355 ↑
  2. Connelly, H., Poveda, K., & Loeb, G. (2015). Landscape simplification decreases wild bee pollination services to strawberry. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 211, 51-56 ↑
  3. Dainese, M., Isaac, N. J. B., Powney, G. D., Bommarco, R., Öckinger, E., Kuussaari, M., Pöyry J., Tim G. Benton T. G., Gabriel D., Hodgson J. A., Kunin W. A., Lindborg R., Sait S. M., Marini, L. (2017). Landscape simplification weakens the association between terrestrial producer and consumer diversity in Europe. Global Change Biology, 23(8), 3040-3051 ↑
  4. Lin, B. B. (2011). Resilience in agriculture through crop diversification: Adaptive management for environmental change. Bioscience, 61(3), 183-193. ↑
  5. Redlich, S., Martin, E. A., & Steffan-Dewenter, I. (2018). Landscape-level crop diversity benefits biological pest control. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55(5), 2419-2428. ↑
  6. Mudgal S., Lavelle P., Cachia F., Somogyi D., Majewski E., Fontaine L., Bechini L., Debaeke P. (2010) Environmental impacts of different crop rotations in the European Union, Final Report for the European Commission (DG Environment). ↑
  7. Osterman, O. P. (1998) The need for management of nature conservation sites under Natura 2000. Journal of Applied Ecology 35: 968-973 ↑
  8. Bignal, E.M., D.I. McCracken (2000). The nature conservation value of European traditional farming systems. Environmental Reviews 8: 149-171 ↑
  9. Beaufoy et al., 1994. Beaufoy, G., D. Baldock and J. Clark, (1994). The Nature of Farming: Low intensity farming systems in nine European countries. London, Institute for European Environmental Policy. 66 ↑

Explore further

Other articles

Database
Farm structure (ef)
Farm structural indicators (ef_fsi)
Main farm land use (ef_fsi_lus)
Crop diversity (ef_fsi_cdiv)


  • Cross-cutting topics, see:
Agri-environmental indicators
Share of main land types in utilised agricultural area (UAA) (tai05)

Thematic section

Publications

Methodology

Legislation

External links
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