Land statistics 2001–2022

Land statistics describe the human use of the land surface for different purposes and economic activities (land use), as well as the biophysical characteristics associated with both human and natural systems (land cover). FAO collects annual land use data from countries via its land use, irrigation and agricultural practices questionnaire, covering the full land use matrix in line with international definitions first developed by the World Census of Agriculture. This information is complemented with land cover data, compiled independently of the questionnaire data from global remote sensing maps.This analytical brief reports the main results and changes over time in land statistics and indicators with details at global, regional and country level during the past two decades (2001–2022), with a focus on agriculture. In 2022, world total agricultural land was 4 781 million ha, more than one-third of the global land area. Within agricultural land, cropland covered 1 573 million ha while permanent meadows and pastures were 3 208 million ha.