Land use over the long-term in Gambia
Gambia: Land use over the long-term was 187,000 hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
187,000 hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
141st
of 202 countries
All-time high
400,000 hectares
in 1960
All-time low
24,680 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Gambia, 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 Gambia is 187,000 hectares, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Gambia peaked at 400,000 hectares in 1960 and was at its lowest, 24,680 hectares, in 1000.
Gambia ranks 141st of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Land use over the long-term in Gambia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 24,680 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 27,207 hectares | +10.2% |
| 1200 | 29,862 hectares | +9.8% |
| 1300 | 32,592 hectares | +9.1% |
| 1400 | 35,311 hectares | +8.3% |
| 1500 | 37,867 hectares | +7.2% |
| 1600 | 40,001 hectares | +5.6% |
| 1700 | 41,230 hectares | +3.1% |
| 1710 | 61,087 hectares | +48.2% |
| 1720 | 79,023 hectares | +29.4% |
| 1730 | 96,444 hectares | +22.0% |
| 1740 | 113,326 hectares | +17.5% |
| 1750 | 129,648 hectares | +14.4% |
| 1760 | 145,382 hectares | +12.1% |
| 1770 | 160,498 hectares | +10.4% |
| 1780 | 174,965 hectares | +9.0% |
| 1790 | 188,745 hectares | +7.9% |
| 1800 | 201,799 hectares | +6.9% |
| 1810 | 214,078 hectares | +6.1% |
| 1820 | 225,530 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1830 | 236,094 hectares | +4.7% |
| 1840 | 245,697 hectares | +4.1% |
| 1850 | 254,255 hectares | +3.5% |
| 1860 | 262,553 hectares | +3.3% |
| 1870 | 270,442 hectares | +3.0% |
| 1880 | 286,123 hectares | +5.8% |
| 1890 | 301,601 hectares | +5.4% |
| 1900 | 310,238 hectares | +2.9% |
| 1910 | 317,241 hectares | +2.3% |
| 1920 | 318,670 hectares | +0.5% |
| 1930 | 346,080 hectares | +8.6% |
| 1940 | 366,039 hectares | +5.8% |
| 1950 | 348,620 hectares | -4.8% |
| 1951 | 345,684 hectares | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 345,959 hectares | +0.1% |
| 1953 | 349,249 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1954 | 355,142 hectares | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 363,030 hectares | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 372,117 hectares | +2.5% |
| 1957 | 381,403 hectares | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 389,834 hectares | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 396,316 hectares | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 400,000 hectares | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 400,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 398,000 hectares | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 396,000 hectares | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 394,000 hectares | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 392,000 hectares | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 390,000 hectares | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 381,000 hectares | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 381,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 381,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 372,000 hectares | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 367,000 hectares | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 362,000 hectares | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 347,000 hectares | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 347,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 337,000 hectares | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 267,000 hectares | -20.8% |
| 2001 | 235,000 hectares | -12.0% |
| 2002 | 232,000 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 202,000 hectares | -12.9% |
| 2004 | 200,000 hectares | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 197,000 hectares | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 197,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 187,000 hectares | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 187,000 hectares | +0.0% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 187,000 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.53 million hectares, 2% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 187,000 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.45 million hectares, 3% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use over the long-term in Gambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1710 | +48.2% | 41,230 hectares | 61,087 hectares |
| 1720 | +29.4% | 61,087 hectares | 79,023 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 24,680 hectares | 24,680 hectares | 24,680 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 27,207 hectares | 27,207 hectares | 27,207 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 29,862 hectares | 29,862 hectares | 29,862 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 32,592 hectares | 32,592 hectares | 32,592 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 35,311 hectares | 35,311 hectares | 35,311 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 37,867 hectares | 37,867 hectares | 37,867 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 40,001 hectares | 40,001 hectares | 40,001 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 41,230 hectares | 41,230 hectares | 41,230 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 61,087 hectares | 61,087 hectares | 61,087 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 79,023 hectares | 79,023 hectares | 79,023 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 96,444 hectares | 96,444 hectares | 96,444 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 113,326 hectares | 113,326 hectares | 113,326 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 129,648 hectares | 129,648 hectares | 129,648 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 145,382 hectares | 145,382 hectares | 145,382 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 160,498 hectares | 160,498 hectares | 160,498 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 174,965 hectares | 174,965 hectares | 174,965 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 188,745 hectares | 188,745 hectares | 188,745 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 201,799 hectares | 201,799 hectares | 201,799 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 214,078 hectares | 214,078 hectares | 214,078 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 225,530 hectares | 225,530 hectares | 225,530 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 236,094 hectares | 236,094 hectares | 236,094 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 245,697 hectares | 245,697 hectares | 245,697 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 254,255 hectares | 254,255 hectares | 254,255 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 262,553 hectares | 262,553 hectares | 262,553 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 270,442 hectares | 270,442 hectares | 270,442 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 286,123 hectares | 286,123 hectares | 286,123 hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 301,601 hectares | 301,601 hectares | 301,601 hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 310,238 hectares | 310,238 hectares | 310,238 hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 317,241 hectares | 317,241 hectares | 317,241 hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 318,670 hectares | 318,670 hectares | 318,670 hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 346,080 hectares | 346,080 hectares | 346,080 hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 366,039 hectares | 366,039 hectares | 366,039 hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 364,735 hectares | 345,684 hectares | 396,316 hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 400,000 hectares | 400,000 hectares | 400,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 400,000 hectares | 400,000 hectares | 400,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 398,000 hectares | 392,000 hectares | 400,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 366,500 hectares | 337,000 hectares | 390,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 209,100 hectares | 187,000 hectares | 267,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 187,000 hectares | 187,000 hectares | 187,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 187,000 hectares | 187,000 hectares | 187,000 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 138 Denmark 255,475 hectares compare
- 139 Jamaica 229,000 hectares compare
- 140 Papua New Guinea 190,000 hectares compare
- 142 Guinea-Bissau 175,200 hectares compare
- 143 New Caledonia 174,330 hectares compare
- 144 Norway 174,229 hectares compare
More environment data for Gambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.366 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.36 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9281 % 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 -1.52 % 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 Gambia?
- Land use over the long-term in Gambia was 187,000 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 400,000 hectares in 1960.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,680 hectares in 1000.
- How does Gambia rank for land use over the long-term?
- Gambia ranks 141st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia 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.