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Data

Agricultural land, cropland, pasture and forest as a share of land area

The part of each country's land area, and of the world's, that is cropland, permanent meadows and pastures (together, agricultural land) or forest, each year since 1961 (forest since 1990), as calculated by FAO.

Latest value

36.0%

Countries and territories, the European Union (27) and the world, 2024. Version 2026-10-02.

Agricultural land, cropland, pasture and forest as a share of land area (percent of land area)

227 values from 1961 to 2024. Lines: Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures), Cropland (arable land and permanent crops), Permanent meadows and pastures, Forest land.
Show as a table
Agricultural land, cropland, pasture and forest as a share of land area, every value
PeriodLand useValue (%)Status
1961Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)34.7final
1962Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)34.7final
1963Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)34.7final
1964Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)34.8final
1965Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)34.9final
1966Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)34.9final
1967Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)34.9final
1968Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.2final
1969Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.2final
1970Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.1final
1971Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.2final
1972Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.3final
1973Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.3final
1974Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.4final
1975Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.4final
1976Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.4final
1977Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.4final
1978Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.5final
1979Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.5final
1980Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.5final
1981Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.6final
1982Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.6final
1983Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.7final
1984Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.8final
1985Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.0final
1986Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.0final
1987Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
1988Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
1989Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.2final
1990Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.2final
1991Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.2final
1992Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.6final
1993Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.4final
1994Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.6final
1995Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.6final
1996Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.6final
1997Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.7final
1998Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.8final
1999Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.8final
2000Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.9final
2001Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.9final
2002Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.8final
2003Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.6final
2004Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.3final
2005Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.3final
2006Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.3final
2007Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.2final
2008Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
2009Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
2010Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
2011Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.2final
2012Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.2final
2013Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
2014Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
2015Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.9final
2016Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)35.9final
2017Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
2018Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.0final
2019Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.0final
2020Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.0final
2021Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.1final
2022Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.0final
2023Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.0final
2024Agricultural land (cropland and permanent meadows and pastures)36.0final
1961Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.3final
1962Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.3final
1963Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.3final
1964Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.4final
1965Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.4final
1966Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.4final
1967Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.4final
1968Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.5final
1969Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.6final
1970Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.6final
1971Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.5final
1972Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.6final
1973Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.6final
1974Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.6final
1975Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.6final
1976Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.7final
1977Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.7final
1978Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.8final
1979Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.9final
1980Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.9final
1981Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)10.9final
1982Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.0final
1983Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.1final
1984Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.2final
1985Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.3final
1986Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.3final
1987Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1988Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1989Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1990Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1991Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1992Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1993Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1994Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1995Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1996Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.4final
1997Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.5final
1998Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.5final
1999Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.5final
2000Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.5final
2001Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.5final
2002Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.5final
2003Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.5final
2004Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.6final
2005Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.6final
2006Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.6final
2007Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.6final
2008Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.6final
2009Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.7final
2010Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.7final
2011Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.8final
2012Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.8final
2013Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.9final
2014Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)11.9final
2015Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.0final
2016Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.0final
2017Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.0final
2018Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.1final
2019Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.1final
2020Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.1final
2021Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.2final
2022Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.2final
2023Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.2final
2024Cropland (arable land and permanent crops)12.2final
1961Permanent meadows and pastures24.4final
1962Permanent meadows and pastures24.4final
1963Permanent meadows and pastures24.4final
1964Permanent meadows and pastures24.4final
1965Permanent meadows and pastures24.5final
1966Permanent meadows and pastures24.5final
1967Permanent meadows and pastures24.5final
1968Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1969Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1970Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1971Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1972Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1973Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1974Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1975Permanent meadows and pastures24.8final
1976Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1977Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1978Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1979Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1980Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1981Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1982Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1983Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1984Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1985Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1986Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
1987Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
1988Permanent meadows and pastures24.8final
1989Permanent meadows and pastures24.8final
1990Permanent meadows and pastures24.8final
1991Permanent meadows and pastures24.8final
1992Permanent meadows and pastures25.2final
1993Permanent meadows and pastures25.0final
1994Permanent meadows and pastures25.1final
1995Permanent meadows and pastures25.1final
1996Permanent meadows and pastures25.2final
1997Permanent meadows and pastures25.3final
1998Permanent meadows and pastures25.4final
1999Permanent meadows and pastures25.3final
2000Permanent meadows and pastures25.4final
2001Permanent meadows and pastures25.4final
2002Permanent meadows and pastures25.3final
2003Permanent meadows and pastures25.1final
2004Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
2005Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
2006Permanent meadows and pastures24.7final
2007Permanent meadows and pastures24.6final
2008Permanent meadows and pastures24.5final
2009Permanent meadows and pastures24.4final
2010Permanent meadows and pastures24.4final
2011Permanent meadows and pastures24.4final
2012Permanent meadows and pastures24.3final
2013Permanent meadows and pastures24.2final
2014Permanent meadows and pastures24.2final
2015Permanent meadows and pastures24.0final
2016Permanent meadows and pastures23.9final
2017Permanent meadows and pastures24.1final
2018Permanent meadows and pastures23.9final
2019Permanent meadows and pastures23.9final
2020Permanent meadows and pastures23.9final
2021Permanent meadows and pastures23.9final
2022Permanent meadows and pastures23.9final
2023Permanent meadows and pastures23.9final
2024Permanent meadows and pastures23.8final
1990Forest land33.3final
1991Forest land33.2final
1992Forest land33.3final
1993Forest land33.2final
1994Forest land33.1final
1995Forest land33.0final
1996Forest land32.9final
1997Forest land32.8final
1998Forest land32.8final
1999Forest land32.7final
2000Forest land32.6final
2001Forest land32.6final
2002Forest land32.5final
2003Forest land32.5final
2004Forest land32.4final
2005Forest land32.4final
2006Forest land32.4final
2007Forest land32.4final
2008Forest land32.3final
2009Forest land32.3final
2010Forest land32.3final
2011Forest land32.2final
2012Forest land32.2final
2013Forest land32.2final
2014Forest land32.1final
2015Forest land32.1final
2016Forest land32.1final
2017Forest land32.0final
2018Forest land32.0final
2019Forest land32.0final
2020Forest land32.0final
2021Forest land32.0final
2022Forest land31.9final
2023Forest land31.9final
2024Forest land31.9final
FAO. 2026. FAOSTAT. Accessed on 5 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data Licence: CC-BY-4.0. CC BY 4.0 (FAO Statistical Database Terms of Use).

Where it comes from

Producer
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division · FAOSTAT agrifood emissions, livestock emissions, emissions intensities, land use and food loss
Version
2026-10-02
Fetched
2026-10-04 (automatically), 2,970,716 bytes
Fingerprint
sha256 39b739fbfb694971207a2efa572c41e8de2386fc5cb33caaf2a188e9c9a6ca3fETag "0c5cd521652ac5535fff638d867f975c" · Last-Modified Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:15:20 GMT
Copies
No Wayback copy recorded yet.Our copy of the exact file
Cite the producer
FAO. 2026. FAOSTAT. Accessed on 5 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data Licence: CC-BY-4.0.
Producer
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Statistics Division · FAOSTAT agrifood emissions, livestock emissions, emissions intensities, land use and food loss
Version
2026-10-02
Fetched
2026-10-05 (automatically), 109,120 bytes
Fingerprint
sha256 008f475c971a7770c69b1bc48f1c3a5fa8bf3873e762d6e1e9516bb0a700ebdaETag W/"157c9ec8e5eea09a02497cc10f67bcdb" · Last-Modified Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:49:35 GMT
Copies
No Wayback copy recorded yet.Our copy of the exact file
Cite the producer
FAO. 2026. FAOSTAT. Accessed on 5 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data Licence: CC-BY-4.0.

What was done to it

  1. Read Inputs_LandUse_E_All_Data_(Normalized).csv from FAOSTAT's RL bulk zip. The vintage is the domain's DateUpdate, 2 October 2026, from FAOSTAT's bulk-download catalogue (datasets_E.json), whose entry names this zip and gives FileRows 421,850, the number of data rows in this file. The zip was last modified on the server on Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:15:20 GMT.

    Code: pipeline/src/envdash/transforms/food/faostat_land_use.py · code sha256 534fd841c2025e33… · inputs 39b739fbfb69… 008f475c971a…

  2. Kept the rows of element "Share in Land area" (code 7209, unit "%") for items "Agricultural land" (6610), "Cropland" (6620), "Permanent meadows and pastures" (6655), "Forest land" (6646), 1961–2024, for every area FAO reports; values are published as printed.

    Code: pipeline/src/envdash/transforms/food/faostat_land_use.py · code sha256 534fd841c2025e33… · inputs 39b739fbfb69… 008f475c971a…

  3. Left out former states and territories reported only before their dissolution, with no entity here (Belgium-Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia PDR, Netherlands Antilles (former), Pacific Islands Trust Territory, Sudan (former), USSR, Yugoslav SFR); FAO regional and analytical groups (Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Caribbean, Central America, Central Asia, China, Eastern Africa, Eastern Asia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Land Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Latin America and the Caribbean, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Low Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), Melanesia, Micronesia, Middle Africa, Net Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs), Northern Africa, Northern America, Northern Europe, OECD, Oceania, Polynesia, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), South America, South-eastern Asia, Southern Africa, Southern Asia, Southern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Africa, Western Asia, Western Europe). Their values are never re-assigned to other entities.

    Code: pipeline/src/envdash/transforms/food/faostat_land_use.py · code sha256 534fd841c2025e33… · inputs 39b739fbfb69… 008f475c971a…

  4. Every value used carries FAO's flag E, which the file's codebook defines as "Estimated value".

    Code: pipeline/src/envdash/transforms/food/faostat_land_use.py · code sha256 534fd841c2025e33… · inputs 39b739fbfb69… 008f475c971a…

  5. 8 values are empty in the file and are published as null, with FAO's flag as the reason.

    Code: pipeline/src/envdash/transforms/food/faostat_land_use.py · code sha256 534fd841c2025e33… · inputs 39b739fbfb69… 008f475c971a…

What it covers

Geography
Countries and territories, the European Union (27) and the world
Basis
FAOSTAT Land Use (RL) categories: agricultural land = cropland (arable land and permanent crops) + permanent meadows and pastures; forest land as defined by FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment (land over 0.5 ha with trees over 5 m and canopy cover over 10 percent, not mainly under agricultural or urban use), taken by FAO from FRA 2025 and available from 1990. Country reports, with FAO estimates and imputations where countries did not report (each value's flag is given). Share = FAO's element "Share in Land area": the category's area divided by the country's land area (country area less inland waters), as published by FAO.
Unit
percent of land area (%)