Land use over the long-term in Australia
Australia: Land use over the long-term was 318.70 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
318.70 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
2nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
428.84 million hectares
in 1969
All-time low
0 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Australia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Australia recorded 318.70 million hectares for land use over the long-term in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Australia peaked at 428.84 million hectares in 1969 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 1000.
Australia ranks 2nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land use over the long-term in Australia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1200 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1300 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1400 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1500 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1600 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1700 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1710 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1720 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1730 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1740 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1750 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1760 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1770 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1780 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1790 | 247,019 hectares | — |
| 1800 | 392,578 hectares | +58.9% |
| 1810 | 925,486 hectares | +135.7% |
| 1820 | 1.62 million hectares | +75.3% |
| 1830 | 2.90 million hectares | +78.9% |
| 1840 | 5.29 million hectares | +82.3% |
| 1850 | 9.81 million hectares | +85.4% |
| 1860 | 18.47 million hectares | +88.2% |
| 1870 | 29.51 million hectares | +59.8% |
| 1880 | 42.50 million hectares | +44.0% |
| 1890 | 65.44 million hectares | +54.0% |
| 1900 | 94.10 million hectares | +43.8% |
| 1910 | 128.16 million hectares | +36.2% |
| 1920 | 168.71 million hectares | +31.6% |
| 1930 | 217.83 million hectares | +29.1% |
| 1940 | 265.15 million hectares | +21.7% |
| 1950 | 323.25 million hectares | +21.9% |
| 1951 | 333.12 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 1952 | 343.07 million hectares | +3.0% |
| 1953 | 353.14 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1954 | 363.21 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1955 | 373.26 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 383.29 million hectares | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 393.43 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1958 | 403.33 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 409.38 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1960 | 415.41 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 415.05 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 415.18 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 416.64 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 417.16 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 418.53 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 417.69 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 418.62 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 428.76 million hectares | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 428.84 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 421.14 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 425.41 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 425.40 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 426.13 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 427.43 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 427.98 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 427.86 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 423.04 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 423.90 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 422.00 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 422.77 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 422.38 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 419.06 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 415.72 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 415.12 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 415.84 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 407.12 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 409.19 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 410.80 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 408.88 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 408.00 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 406.99 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 391.57 million hectares | -3.8% |
| 1993 | 388.40 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 391.74 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 392.10 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 392.35 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 388.56 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 387.79 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 381.12 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 381.39 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 383.57 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 379.89 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 376.74 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 346.47 million hectares | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 357.79 million hectares | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 358.58 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 351.08 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 343.41 million hectares | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 336.63 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 331.65 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 342.23 million hectares | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 335.54 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 323.72 million hectares | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 324.98 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 305.25 million hectares | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 302.09 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 323.53 million hectares | +7.1% |
| 2018 | 314.22 million hectares | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 316.83 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 311.58 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 317.07 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 317.07 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 317.32 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 318.01 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 318.70 million hectares | +0.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 318.70 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 395,224 hectares, 806.4× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Australia's 318.70 million hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 190,000 hectares, 1677.3× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use over the long-term in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | +135.7% | 392,578 hectares | 925,486 hectares |
| 1860 | +88.2% | 9.81 million hectares | 18.47 million hectares |
| 1850 | +85.4% | 5.29 million hectares | 9.81 million hectares |
| 1840 | +82.3% | 2.90 million hectares | 5.29 million hectares |
| 1830 | +78.9% | 1.62 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares |
| 1820 | +75.3% | 925,486 hectares | 1.62 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 247,019 hectares | 247,019 hectares | 247,019 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 392,578 hectares | 392,578 hectares | 392,578 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 925,486 hectares | 925,486 hectares | 925,486 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.62 million hectares | 1.62 million hectares | 1.62 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 2.90 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 5.29 million hectares | 5.29 million hectares | 5.29 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 9.81 million hectares | 9.81 million hectares | 9.81 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 18.47 million hectares | 18.47 million hectares | 18.47 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 29.51 million hectares | 29.51 million hectares | 29.51 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 42.50 million hectares | 42.50 million hectares | 42.50 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 65.44 million hectares | 65.44 million hectares | 65.44 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 94.10 million hectares | 94.10 million hectares | 94.10 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 128.16 million hectares | 128.16 million hectares | 128.16 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 168.71 million hectares | 168.71 million hectares | 168.71 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 217.83 million hectares | 217.83 million hectares | 217.83 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 265.15 million hectares | 265.15 million hectares | 265.15 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 367.85 million hectares | 323.25 million hectares | 409.38 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 419.19 million hectares | 415.05 million hectares | 428.84 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 425.03 million hectares | 421.14 million hectares | 427.98 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 414.69 million hectares | 407.12 million hectares | 422.77 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 392.86 million hectares | 381.12 million hectares | 408.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 361.56 million hectares | 336.63 million hectares | 383.57 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 322.00 million hectares | 302.09 million hectares | 342.23 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 316.62 million hectares | 311.58 million hectares | 318.70 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 1 China 392.61 million hectares compare
- 3 United States 257.67 million hectares compare
- 4 Brazil 210.81 million hectares compare
- 5 Kazakhstan 183.11 million hectares compare
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % 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 0.0861 % 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 land use over the long-term in Australia?
- Land use over the long-term in Australia was 318.70 million hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land use over the long-term recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 428.84 million hectares in 1969.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 1000.
- How does Australia rank for land use over the long-term?
- Australia ranks 2nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of 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.