Land use over the long-term in Germany
Germany: Land use over the long-term was 4.74 million hectares in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
4.74 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
68th
of 202 countries
All-time high
16.93 million hectares
in 1300
All-time low
4.62 million hectares
in 2013
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Germany, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, land use over the long-term in Germany stood at 4.74 million hectares.
The figure is up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Germany peaked at 16.93 million hectares in 1300 and was at its lowest, 4.62 million hectares, in 2013.
Germany ranks 68th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 108 years of available data.
Land use over the long-term in Germany, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 8.87 million hectares | — |
| 1100 | 12.90 million hectares | +45.4% |
| 1200 | 15.32 million hectares | +18.7% |
| 1300 | 16.93 million hectares | +10.5% |
| 1400 | 14.11 million hectares | -16.6% |
| 1500 | 14.11 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1600 | 15.32 million hectares | +8.6% |
| 1700 | 16.13 million hectares | +5.3% |
| 1710 | 16.02 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1720 | 15.72 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1730 | 15.24 million hectares | -3.1% |
| 1740 | 14.57 million hectares | -4.4% |
| 1750 | 13.71 million hectares | -5.9% |
| 1760 | 13.84 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1770 | 13.91 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1780 | 13.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 13.84 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1800 | 13.71 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1810 | 13.17 million hectares | -4.0% |
| 1820 | 12.53 million hectares | -4.9% |
| 1830 | 12.76 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1840 | 12.66 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1850 | 12.10 million hectares | -4.4% |
| 1860 | 11.67 million hectares | -3.5% |
| 1870 | 11.35 million hectares | -2.8% |
| 1880 | 11.08 million hectares | -2.4% |
| 1890 | 10.47 million hectares | -5.4% |
| 1900 | 10.08 million hectares | -3.7% |
| 1910 | 11.40 million hectares | +13.1% |
| 1920 | 10.79 million hectares | -5.4% |
| 1930 | 11.26 million hectares | +4.4% |
| 1940 | 11.79 million hectares | +4.7% |
| 1950 | 11.53 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 1951 | 11.06 million hectares | -4.1% |
| 1952 | 10.59 million hectares | -4.3% |
| 1953 | 10.11 million hectares | -4.5% |
| 1954 | 9.62 million hectares | -4.8% |
| 1955 | 9.13 million hectares | -5.1% |
| 1956 | 8.64 million hectares | -5.4% |
| 1957 | 8.15 million hectares | -5.7% |
| 1958 | 7.65 million hectares | -6.1% |
| 1959 | 7.15 million hectares | -6.5% |
| 1960 | 6.65 million hectares | -7.0% |
| 1961 | 6.65 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 6.70 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 6.74 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 6.80 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 6.89 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 6.89 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 6.89 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 6.78 million hectares | -1.6% |
| 1969 | 6.77 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 6.63 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 6.55 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 6.50 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 6.45 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1974 | 6.34 million hectares | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 6.28 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1976 | 6.20 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 6.15 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 6.08 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 6.04 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 5.99 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 5.96 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 5.93 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 5.88 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 5.86 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 5.82 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 5.79 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 5.74 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 5.71 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 5.67 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 5.62 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 5.33 million hectares | -5.1% |
| 1992 | 5.24 million hectares | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 5.25 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 5.27 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 5.28 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 5.27 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 5.27 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 5.27 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 5.11 million hectares | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 5.05 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 5.01 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 4.97 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 4.97 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 4.91 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 4.93 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 4.88 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 4.88 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 4.79 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 4.74 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 4.66 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 4.64 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 4.63 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 4.62 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 4.65 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 4.68 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 4.69 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 4.71 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 4.71 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 4.75 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 4.73 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 4.73 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 4.73 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 4.74 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 4.74 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 4.74 million hectares | +0.0% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 4.74 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 395,224 hectares, 12.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Germany's 4.74 million hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.16 million hectares, 4.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use over the long-term in Germany 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 | +45.4% | 8.87 million hectares | 12.90 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 8.87 million hectares | 8.87 million hectares | 8.87 million hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 12.90 million hectares | 12.90 million hectares | 12.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 15.32 million hectares | 15.32 million hectares | 15.32 million hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 16.93 million hectares | 16.93 million hectares | 16.93 million hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 14.11 million hectares | 14.11 million hectares | 14.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 14.11 million hectares | 14.11 million hectares | 14.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 15.32 million hectares | 15.32 million hectares | 15.32 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 16.13 million hectares | 16.13 million hectares | 16.13 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 16.02 million hectares | 16.02 million hectares | 16.02 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 15.72 million hectares | 15.72 million hectares | 15.72 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 15.24 million hectares | 15.24 million hectares | 15.24 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 14.57 million hectares | 14.57 million hectares | 14.57 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 13.71 million hectares | 13.71 million hectares | 13.71 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 13.84 million hectares | 13.84 million hectares | 13.84 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 13.91 million hectares | 13.91 million hectares | 13.91 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 13.91 million hectares | 13.91 million hectares | 13.91 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 13.84 million hectares | 13.84 million hectares | 13.84 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 13.71 million hectares | 13.71 million hectares | 13.71 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 13.17 million hectares | 13.17 million hectares | 13.17 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 12.53 million hectares | 12.53 million hectares | 12.53 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 12.76 million hectares | 12.76 million hectares | 12.76 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 12.66 million hectares | 12.66 million hectares | 12.66 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 12.10 million hectares | 12.10 million hectares | 12.10 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 11.67 million hectares | 11.67 million hectares | 11.67 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 11.35 million hectares | 11.35 million hectares | 11.35 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 11.08 million hectares | 11.08 million hectares | 11.08 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 10.47 million hectares | 10.47 million hectares | 10.47 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 10.08 million hectares | 10.08 million hectares | 10.08 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 11.40 million hectares | 11.40 million hectares | 11.40 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 10.79 million hectares | 10.79 million hectares | 10.79 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 11.26 million hectares | 11.26 million hectares | 11.26 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 11.79 million hectares | 11.79 million hectares | 11.79 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 9.36 million hectares | 7.15 million hectares | 11.53 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.78 million hectares | 6.65 million hectares | 6.89 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.32 million hectares | 6.04 million hectares | 6.63 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.83 million hectares | 5.67 million hectares | 5.99 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.29 million hectares | 5.11 million hectares | 5.62 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.91 million hectares | 4.74 million hectares | 5.05 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.68 million hectares | 4.62 million hectares | 4.75 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.74 million hectares | 4.73 million hectares | 4.74 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More environment data for Germany
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.613 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.65 % 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 -0.0079 % 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 Germany?
- Land use over the long-term in Germany was 4.74 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 16.93 million hectares in 1300.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.62 million hectares in 2013.
- How does Germany rank for land use over the long-term?
- Germany ranks 68th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany 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.