Land use over the long-term in Canada
Canada: Land use over the long-term was 18.12 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
18.12 million hectares
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
39th
of 202 countries
All-time high
25.60 million hectares
in 1965
All-time low
0 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Canada, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for land use over the long-term in Canada is 18.12 million hectares, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Canada peaked at 25.60 million hectares in 1965 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 1000.
That places Canada 39th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land use over the long-term in Canada, 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 | 9,071 hectares | — |
| 1760 | 13,606 hectares | +50.0% |
| 1770 | 26,350 hectares | +93.7% |
| 1780 | 39,731 hectares | +50.8% |
| 1790 | 60,008 hectares | +51.0% |
| 1800 | 90,836 hectares | +51.4% |
| 1810 | 148,421 hectares | +63.4% |
| 1820 | 225,927 hectares | +52.2% |
| 1830 | 345,482 hectares | +52.9% |
| 1840 | 531,406 hectares | +53.8% |
| 1850 | 823,476 hectares | +55.0% |
| 1860 | 1.29 million hectares | +56.4% |
| 1870 | 2.57 million hectares | +99.9% |
| 1880 | 3.14 million hectares | +21.8% |
| 1890 | 4.01 million hectares | +27.9% |
| 1900 | 4.05 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1910 | 5.86 million hectares | +44.8% |
| 1920 | 9.63 million hectares | +64.4% |
| 1930 | 12.29 million hectares | +27.6% |
| 1940 | 15.74 million hectares | +28.1% |
| 1950 | 15.74 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1951 | 16.68 million hectares | +6.0% |
| 1952 | 17.62 million hectares | +5.6% |
| 1953 | 18.56 million hectares | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 19.50 million hectares | +5.1% |
| 1955 | 20.44 million hectares | +4.8% |
| 1956 | 21.38 million hectares | +4.6% |
| 1957 | 22.33 million hectares | +4.4% |
| 1958 | 23.27 million hectares | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 24.21 million hectares | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 25.15 million hectares | +3.9% |
| 1961 | 25.15 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 25.26 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 25.37 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 25.48 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 25.60 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 25.38 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 25.18 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 24.98 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 24.78 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 24.58 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 24.37 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 24.28 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 24.18 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 24.09 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 23.99 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 23.90 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 23.24 million hectares | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 22.59 million hectares | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 21.93 million hectares | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 21.28 million hectares | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 20.62 million hectares | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 20.34 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 20.06 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 19.78 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 19.50 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 19.22 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 19.40 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 19.57 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 19.75 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 19.93 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 20.11 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 20.08 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 20.05 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 20.02 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 19.99 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 19.96 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 20.01 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 20.05 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 20.10 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 20.15 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 20.19 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 21.31 million hectares | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 21.50 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 21.69 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 21.88 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 21.14 million hectares | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 20.96 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 20.78 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 20.60 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 20.42 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 20.24 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 20.06 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 19.88 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 19.70 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 19.52 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 19.34 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 19.19 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 19.03 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 18.87 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 18.72 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 18.56 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 18.56 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 18.37 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 18.25 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 18.12 million hectares | -0.7% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 18.12 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 395,224 hectares, 45.9× the median. (68 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use over the long-term in Canada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | +99.9% | 1.29 million hectares | 2.57 million hectares |
| 1770 | +93.7% | 13,606 hectares | 26,350 hectares |
| 1920 | +64.4% | 5.86 million hectares | 9.63 million hectares |
| 1810 | +63.4% | 90,836 hectares | 148,421 hectares |
| 1860 | +56.4% | 823,476 hectares | 1.29 million hectares |
| 1850 | +55.0% | 531,406 hectares | 823,476 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 | 9,071 hectares | 9,071 hectares | 9,071 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 13,606 hectares | 13,606 hectares | 13,606 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 26,350 hectares | 26,350 hectares | 26,350 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 39,731 hectares | 39,731 hectares | 39,731 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 60,008 hectares | 60,008 hectares | 60,008 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 90,836 hectares | 90,836 hectares | 90,836 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 148,421 hectares | 148,421 hectares | 148,421 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 225,927 hectares | 225,927 hectares | 225,927 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 345,482 hectares | 345,482 hectares | 345,482 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 531,406 hectares | 531,406 hectares | 531,406 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 823,476 hectares | 823,476 hectares | 823,476 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.29 million hectares | 1.29 million hectares | 1.29 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.57 million hectares | 2.57 million hectares | 2.57 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 3.14 million hectares | 3.14 million hectares | 3.14 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 4.01 million hectares | 4.01 million hectares | 4.01 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 4.05 million hectares | 4.05 million hectares | 4.05 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 5.86 million hectares | 5.86 million hectares | 5.86 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 9.63 million hectares | 9.63 million hectares | 9.63 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 12.29 million hectares | 12.29 million hectares | 12.29 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 15.74 million hectares | 15.74 million hectares | 15.74 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 19.97 million hectares | 15.74 million hectares | 24.21 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 25.23 million hectares | 24.78 million hectares | 25.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 23.71 million hectares | 21.93 million hectares | 24.58 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.95 million hectares | 19.22 million hectares | 21.28 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.03 million hectares | 19.93 million hectares | 20.11 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.02 million hectares | 20.15 million hectares | 21.88 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.62 million hectares | 18.87 million hectares | 20.42 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.43 million hectares | 18.12 million hectares | 18.72 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More environment data for Canada
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.642 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.96 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.7 % 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 -0.3398 % 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 Canada?
- Land use over the long-term in Canada was 18.12 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 25.60 million hectares in 1965.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 1000.
- How does Canada rank for land use over the long-term?
- Canada ranks 39th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.