Land use over the long-term in China
China: Land use over the long-term was 392.61 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
392.61 million hectares
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
1st
of 202 countries
All-time high
392.64 million hectares
in 2014
All-time low
13.08 million hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in China, 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 China is 392.61 million hectares, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in China peaked at 392.64 million hectares in 2014 and was at its lowest, 13.08 million hectares, in 1000.
China ranks 1st of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Land use over the long-term in China, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 13.08 million hectares | — |
| 1100 | 32.25 million hectares | +146.5% |
| 1200 | 36.86 million hectares | +14.3% |
| 1300 | 28.60 million hectares | -22.4% |
| 1400 | 25.48 million hectares | -10.9% |
| 1500 | 32.64 million hectares | +28.1% |
| 1600 | 35.07 million hectares | +7.4% |
| 1700 | 35.56 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1710 | 37.21 million hectares | +4.6% |
| 1720 | 42.74 million hectares | +14.9% |
| 1730 | 45.44 million hectares | +6.3% |
| 1740 | 51.14 million hectares | +12.5% |
| 1750 | 63.78 million hectares | +24.7% |
| 1760 | 70.48 million hectares | +10.5% |
| 1770 | 78.73 million hectares | +11.7% |
| 1780 | 98.61 million hectares | +25.2% |
| 1790 | 106.85 million hectares | +8.4% |
| 1800 | 104.44 million hectares | -2.2% |
| 1810 | 122.30 million hectares | +17.1% |
| 1820 | 126.16 million hectares | +3.2% |
| 1830 | 138.91 million hectares | +10.1% |
| 1840 | 146.96 million hectares | +5.8% |
| 1850 | 153.51 million hectares | +4.5% |
| 1860 | 150.90 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 1870 | 128.04 million hectares | -15.1% |
| 1880 | 129.55 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1890 | 133.61 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 1900 | 142.34 million hectares | +6.5% |
| 1910 | 150.53 million hectares | +5.7% |
| 1920 | 167.96 million hectares | +11.6% |
| 1930 | 174.01 million hectares | +3.6% |
| 1940 | 185.34 million hectares | +6.5% |
| 1950 | 197.29 million hectares | +6.4% |
| 1951 | 203.03 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 207.77 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1953 | 211.83 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 215.48 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 218.92 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 222.31 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 225.76 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1958 | 229.34 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 233.05 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 236.91 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 237.91 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 240.91 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 243.90 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 246.90 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 250.90 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 254.90 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1967 | 258.89 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 262.89 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 267.88 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 272.88 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 277.88 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 282.87 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 288.87 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 294.86 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 300.86 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 306.85 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 312.85 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 318.92 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 323.53 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 328.13 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 332.74 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 337.34 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 341.95 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 346.55 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 351.16 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 355.77 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 360.37 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 364.98 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 369.58 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 374.19 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 378.79 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 383.40 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 388.00 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 392.61 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 392.60 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 392.61 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 392.60 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 392.60 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 392.58 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 392.59 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 392.59 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 392.59 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 392.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 392.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 392.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 392.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 392.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 392.60 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 392.60 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 392.64 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 392.64 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 392.64 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 392.64 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 392.59 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 392.58 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 392.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 392.61 million hectares | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 392.61 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.58 million hectares, 248.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 392.61 million hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 190,000 hectares, 2066.4× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use over the long-term in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +146.5% | 13.08 million hectares | 32.25 million hectares |
| 1500 | +28.1% | 25.48 million hectares | 32.64 million hectares |
| 1780 | +25.2% | 78.73 million hectares | 98.61 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 13.08 million hectares | 13.08 million hectares | 13.08 million hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 32.25 million hectares | 32.25 million hectares | 32.25 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 36.86 million hectares | 36.86 million hectares | 36.86 million hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 28.60 million hectares | 28.60 million hectares | 28.60 million hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 25.48 million hectares | 25.48 million hectares | 25.48 million hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 32.64 million hectares | 32.64 million hectares | 32.64 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 35.07 million hectares | 35.07 million hectares | 35.07 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 35.56 million hectares | 35.56 million hectares | 35.56 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 37.21 million hectares | 37.21 million hectares | 37.21 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 42.74 million hectares | 42.74 million hectares | 42.74 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 45.44 million hectares | 45.44 million hectares | 45.44 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 51.14 million hectares | 51.14 million hectares | 51.14 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 63.78 million hectares | 63.78 million hectares | 63.78 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 70.48 million hectares | 70.48 million hectares | 70.48 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 78.73 million hectares | 78.73 million hectares | 78.73 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 98.61 million hectares | 98.61 million hectares | 98.61 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 106.85 million hectares | 106.85 million hectares | 106.85 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 104.44 million hectares | 104.44 million hectares | 104.44 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 122.30 million hectares | 122.30 million hectares | 122.30 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 126.16 million hectares | 126.16 million hectares | 126.16 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 138.91 million hectares | 138.91 million hectares | 138.91 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 146.96 million hectares | 146.96 million hectares | 146.96 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 153.51 million hectares | 153.51 million hectares | 153.51 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 150.90 million hectares | 150.90 million hectares | 150.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 128.04 million hectares | 128.04 million hectares | 128.04 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 129.55 million hectares | 129.55 million hectares | 129.55 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 133.61 million hectares | 133.61 million hectares | 133.61 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 142.34 million hectares | 142.34 million hectares | 142.34 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 150.53 million hectares | 150.53 million hectares | 150.53 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 167.96 million hectares | 167.96 million hectares | 167.96 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 174.01 million hectares | 174.01 million hectares | 174.01 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 185.34 million hectares | 185.34 million hectares | 185.34 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 216.48 million hectares | 197.29 million hectares | 233.05 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 250.20 million hectares | 236.91 million hectares | 267.88 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 298.04 million hectares | 272.88 million hectares | 323.53 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 348.86 million hectares | 328.13 million hectares | 369.58 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 388.00 million hectares | 374.19 million hectares | 392.61 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 392.60 million hectares | 392.58 million hectares | 392.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 392.61 million hectares | 392.58 million hectares | 392.64 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 392.61 million hectares | 392.61 million hectares | 392.61 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land use over the long-term in China?
- Land use over the long-term in China was 392.61 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 392.64 million hectares in 2014.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.08 million hectares in 1000.
- How does China rank for land use over the long-term?
- China ranks 1st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.