# Muscle power: Across the Earth

Where hands and oxen still do most of the farming

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/geography/

What this tab covers How the resource varies with latitude, climate, terrain and geology: the richest and poorest regions and the leading countries.

Muscle power matters most where farming is least mechanised, above all in sub-Saharan Africa, where most land is still prepared by hand or with animals; in rich countries it has largely given way to engines.

Reliance on human and animal power falls with income and with access to fuel and machinery. Where diets are poorest, both people and animals deliver less work.

#### Rich and poor regions

| Region | Resource | Level |
|---|---|---|
| **Sub-Saharan Africa (hand labour)** | 65% of cultivated area prepared by hand (late 1990s)^[6](https://www.fao.org/4/a0229e/a0229e05.htm) | high |
| **Sub-Saharan Africa (draught animals)** | 25% of cultivated area^[6](https://www.fao.org/4/a0229e/a0229e05.htm) | medium |
| **Sub-Saharan Africa (tractors)** | 10% of cultivated area^[6](https://www.fao.org/4/a0229e/a0229e05.htm) | low |
| **Africa (dietary energy supply)** | lowest of all regions, 2010-2022^[3](https://www.fao.org/statistics/highlights-archive/highlights-detail/food-balance-sheets-2010-2022-global-regional-and-country-trends/en) | low |
| **Europe and the Americas (dietary energy supply)** | highest of all regions in 2022^[3](https://www.fao.org/statistics/highlights-archive/highlights-detail/food-balance-sheets-2010-2022-global-regional-and-country-trends/en) | high |

The FAO estimates that put about two-thirds of the world's farmers on hand tools show how uneven mechanisation is: only about 30 million farmers use machines. Where draught animals are used, their output depends on feed as much as on breed: FAO advises cutting standard power figures by about 40% for animals on typical African diets, and Africa also has the lowest dietary energy supply for people of any region.

#### Sources

1. [Food balance sheets 2010-2022: Global, regional and country trends](https://www.fao.org/statistics/highlights-archive/highlights-detail/food-balance-sheets-2010-2022-global-regional-and-country-trends/en) FAO, 2024
2. [Contribution of farm power to smallholder livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa (Agricultural and Food Engineering Technical Report 2)](https://www.fao.org/4/a0229e/a0229e05.htm) FAO

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/correlation/index.md)
- [How energy resides](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/resides/index.md)
- [Abundance](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/abundance/index.md)
- [Fluctuation in time](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/time/index.md)
- [Impact on nature](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/nature/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/links/index.md)