China vs USSR: Land use
China
127.58 million hectares
in 2023
USSR
228.92 million hectares
in 1991
China rank
4th
USSR rank
1st
Land use over time
- China
- USSR
How they compare
USSR currently reports 228.92 million hectares against 127.58 million hectares in China, a difference of 101.34 million hectares.
That makes USSR's figure about 1.8 times China's.
Across all 31 years both countries report, USSR has been ahead every year.
China ranks 4th and USSR ranks 1st of 224 countries.
USSR has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | USSR | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 103.36 million hectares | 236.24 million hectares | 132.89 million hectares | USSR |
| 1970s | 100.28 million hectares | 232.45 million hectares | 132.17 million hectares | USSR |
| 1980s | 116.95 million hectares | 231.58 million hectares | 114.63 million hectares | USSR |
| 1990s | 131.84 million hectares | 228.92 million hectares | 97.08 million hectares | USSR |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher land use, China or USSR?
- USSR, at 228.92 million hectares against 127.58 million hectares in China as of 1991.
- What is the difference in land use between China and USSR?
- 101.34 million hectares, with USSR ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and USSR?
- 31 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 1991.
- How do China and USSR rank globally for land use?
- China ranks 4th and USSR ranks 1st of 224 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Land use. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.