Grazing land use over the long-term in Ireland
Ireland: Grazing land use over the long-term was 3.75 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3.75 million hectares
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
71st
of 202 countries
All-time high
5.20 million hectares
in 1860
All-time low
760,505 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Grazing land use over the long-term in Ireland, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for grazing land use over the long-term in Ireland is 3.75 million hectares, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, grazing land use over the long-term in Ireland peaked at 5.20 million hectares in 1860 and was at its lowest, 760,505 hectares, in 1000.
That places Ireland 71st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Grazing land use over the long-term in Ireland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 760,505 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 1.29 million hectares | +69.7% |
| 1200 | 1.53 million hectares | +18.8% |
| 1300 | 1.51 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1400 | 1.30 million hectares | -13.5% |
| 1500 | 1.25 million hectares | -3.7% |
| 1600 | 1.60 million hectares | +27.2% |
| 1700 | 3.10 million hectares | +94.3% |
| 1710 | 3.50 million hectares | +12.9% |
| 1720 | 3.32 million hectares | -5.1% |
| 1730 | 3.13 million hectares | -5.9% |
| 1740 | 2.91 million hectares | -6.8% |
| 1750 | 2.68 million hectares | -8.0% |
| 1760 | 2.58 million hectares | -3.7% |
| 1770 | 2.48 million hectares | -3.9% |
| 1780 | 2.66 million hectares | +7.3% |
| 1790 | 3.04 million hectares | +14.0% |
| 1800 | 3.12 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1810 | 3.89 million hectares | +24.8% |
| 1820 | 4.45 million hectares | +14.4% |
| 1830 | 4.41 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1840 | 4.49 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1850 | 4.88 million hectares | +8.6% |
| 1860 | 5.20 million hectares | +6.6% |
| 1870 | 5.11 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1880 | 5.16 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1890 | 4.91 million hectares | -4.8% |
| 1900 | 4.87 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1910 | 4.99 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1920 | 5.18 million hectares | +3.7% |
| 1930 | 3.62 million hectares | -30.1% |
| 1940 | 3.80 million hectares | +5.1% |
| 1950 | 3.89 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1951 | 3.91 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1952 | 3.93 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 3.94 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 3.95 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 3.94 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1956 | 3.93 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1957 | 3.92 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 3.91 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1959 | 3.91 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1960 | 3.90 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1961 | 3.90 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 3.96 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 4.07 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 4.14 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 4.24 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 4.25 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 4.27 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 4.30 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 4.26 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 4.29 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 4.32 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 4.36 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 4.38 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 4.38 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 4.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 4.26 million hectares | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 4.14 million hectares | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 4.05 million hectares | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 4.02 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 4.00 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 3.99 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 3.99 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 3.94 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 3.93 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 3.92 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 3.91 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 3.91 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 3.90 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 3.85 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 3.84 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 3.78 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 3.81 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 3.79 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 3.81 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 4.14 million hectares | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 4.13 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 4.13 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 4.09 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 4.05 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 4.00 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 4.00 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 3.98 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 4.03 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 4.06 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 4.08 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 4.07 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 3.90 million hectares | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 3.90 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.85 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 3.80 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 3.75 million hectares | -1.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 3.75 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 395,224 hectares, 9.5× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 3.75 million hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.16 million hectares, 3.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Grazing land use over the long-term in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +94.3% | 1.60 million hectares | 3.10 million hectares |
| 1100 | +69.7% | 760,505 hectares | 1.29 million hectares |
| 1930 | -30.1% | 5.18 million hectares | 3.62 million hectares |
| 1600 | +27.2% | 1.25 million hectares | 1.60 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 760,505 hectares | 760,505 hectares | 760,505 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 1.29 million hectares | 1.29 million hectares | 1.29 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 1.53 million hectares | 1.53 million hectares | 1.53 million hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.51 million hectares | 1.51 million hectares | 1.51 million hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 1.30 million hectares | 1.30 million hectares | 1.30 million hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.25 million hectares | 1.25 million hectares | 1.25 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.60 million hectares | 1.60 million hectares | 1.60 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.10 million hectares | 3.10 million hectares | 3.10 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.50 million hectares | 3.50 million hectares | 3.50 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 3.32 million hectares | 3.32 million hectares | 3.32 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.13 million hectares | 3.13 million hectares | 3.13 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.91 million hectares | 2.91 million hectares | 2.91 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.68 million hectares | 2.68 million hectares | 2.68 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.58 million hectares | 2.58 million hectares | 2.58 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 2.48 million hectares | 2.48 million hectares | 2.48 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 2.66 million hectares | 2.66 million hectares | 2.66 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.04 million hectares | 3.04 million hectares | 3.04 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.12 million hectares | 3.12 million hectares | 3.12 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.89 million hectares | 3.89 million hectares | 3.89 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 4.45 million hectares | 4.45 million hectares | 4.45 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 4.41 million hectares | 4.41 million hectares | 4.41 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 4.49 million hectares | 4.49 million hectares | 4.49 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 4.88 million hectares | 4.88 million hectares | 4.88 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 5.20 million hectares | 5.20 million hectares | 5.20 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 5.11 million hectares | 5.11 million hectares | 5.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 5.16 million hectares | 5.16 million hectares | 5.16 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 4.91 million hectares | 4.91 million hectares | 4.91 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 4.87 million hectares | 4.87 million hectares | 4.87 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 4.99 million hectares | 4.99 million hectares | 4.99 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 5.18 million hectares | 5.18 million hectares | 5.18 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 3.62 million hectares | 3.62 million hectares | 3.62 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 3.80 million hectares | 3.80 million hectares | 3.80 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 3.92 million hectares | 3.89 million hectares | 3.95 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.10 million hectares | 3.90 million hectares | 4.30 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.35 million hectares | 4.26 million hectares | 4.38 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.36 million hectares | 4.26 million hectares | 4.38 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.99 million hectares | 3.91 million hectares | 4.14 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.90 million hectares | 3.78 million hectares | 4.14 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.04 million hectares | 3.98 million hectares | 4.13 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.88 million hectares | 3.75 million hectares | 4.07 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More environment data for Ireland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.412 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.89 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.0083 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is grazing land use over the long-term in Ireland?
- Grazing land use over the long-term in Ireland was 3.75 million hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest grazing land use over the long-term recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.20 million hectares in 1860.
- What is the lowest grazing land use over the long-term recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 760,505 hectares in 1000.
- How does Ireland rank for grazing land use over the long-term?
- Ireland ranks 71st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is grazing land use over the long-term rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Grazing land use over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total grazingland area for each separate country over time.