Land use over the long-term in India
India: Land use over the long-term was 10.48 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
10.48 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
50th
of 202 countries
All-time high
14.63 million hectares
in 1966
All-time low
1.94 million hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in India, 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 India is 10.48 million hectares, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in India peaked at 14.63 million hectares in 1966 and was at its lowest, 1.94 million hectares, in 1000.
India ranks 50th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Land use over the long-term in India, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 1.94 million hectares | — |
| 1100 | 2.00 million hectares | +3.3% |
| 1200 | 2.06 million hectares | +3.2% |
| 1300 | 2.13 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 1400 | 2.19 million hectares | +3.0% |
| 1500 | 2.26 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1600 | 2.32 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1700 | 2.84 million hectares | +22.2% |
| 1710 | 2.90 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1720 | 2.96 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1730 | 3.03 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1740 | 3.09 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1750 | 3.15 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1760 | 3.22 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1770 | 3.28 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1780 | 3.34 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1790 | 3.41 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1800 | 3.47 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1810 | 3.53 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1820 | 3.53 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1830 | 3.72 million hectares | +5.4% |
| 1840 | 3.65 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1850 | 3.99 million hectares | +9.4% |
| 1860 | 4.20 million hectares | +5.2% |
| 1870 | 4.40 million hectares | +4.9% |
| 1880 | 4.42 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1890 | 4.81 million hectares | +8.7% |
| 1900 | 4.89 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 4.54 million hectares | -7.2% |
| 1920 | 4.59 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1930 | 5.08 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 1940 | 5.78 million hectares | +13.8% |
| 1950 | 6.65 million hectares | +15.1% |
| 1951 | 7.31 million hectares | +10.0% |
| 1952 | 8.03 million hectares | +9.8% |
| 1953 | 8.75 million hectares | +9.0% |
| 1954 | 9.47 million hectares | +8.2% |
| 1955 | 10.19 million hectares | +7.6% |
| 1956 | 10.91 million hectares | +7.1% |
| 1957 | 11.63 million hectares | +6.6% |
| 1958 | 12.35 million hectares | +6.2% |
| 1959 | 13.07 million hectares | +5.8% |
| 1960 | 13.79 million hectares | +5.5% |
| 1961 | 13.79 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 13.91 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 13.93 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 14.41 million hectares | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 14.56 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 14.63 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 13.84 million hectares | -5.4% |
| 1968 | 13.62 million hectares | -1.6% |
| 1969 | 13.15 million hectares | -3.5% |
| 1970 | 12.83 million hectares | -2.4% |
| 1971 | 13.10 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 12.80 million hectares | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 12.55 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 1974 | 12.62 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 12.70 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 12.44 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 12.38 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 12.20 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 11.98 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 11.97 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 11.84 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 11.88 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 11.78 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 11.88 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 11.85 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 11.64 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 11.69 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 11.58 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 11.38 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 11.16 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 11.26 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 11.30 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 11.10 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 10.97 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 11.03 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 11.06 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 10.88 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 10.85 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 10.90 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 10.85 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 10.66 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 10.53 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 10.45 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 10.48 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 10.45 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 10.44 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 10.42 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 10.36 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 10.34 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 10.34 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 10.30 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 10.30 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 10.26 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 10.26 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 10.26 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 10.24 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 10.23 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 10.22 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 10.23 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 10.33 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 10.33 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 10.33 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 10.40 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 10.44 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 10.48 million hectares | +0.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 10.48 million hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.30 million hectares, 3.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 10.48 million hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 600,000 hectares, 17.5× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 1.94 million hectares | 1.94 million hectares | 1.94 million hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 2.00 million hectares | 2.00 million hectares | 2.00 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 2.06 million hectares | 2.06 million hectares | 2.06 million hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 2.13 million hectares | 2.13 million hectares | 2.13 million hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 2.19 million hectares | 2.19 million hectares | 2.19 million hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.26 million hectares | 2.26 million hectares | 2.26 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.32 million hectares | 2.32 million hectares | 2.32 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.84 million hectares | 2.84 million hectares | 2.84 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.90 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.96 million hectares | 2.96 million hectares | 2.96 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.03 million hectares | 3.03 million hectares | 3.03 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.09 million hectares | 3.09 million hectares | 3.09 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.15 million hectares | 3.15 million hectares | 3.15 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.22 million hectares | 3.22 million hectares | 3.22 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.28 million hectares | 3.28 million hectares | 3.28 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.34 million hectares | 3.34 million hectares | 3.34 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.41 million hectares | 3.41 million hectares | 3.41 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.47 million hectares | 3.47 million hectares | 3.47 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.53 million hectares | 3.53 million hectares | 3.53 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 3.53 million hectares | 3.53 million hectares | 3.53 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 3.72 million hectares | 3.72 million hectares | 3.72 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 3.65 million hectares | 3.65 million hectares | 3.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 3.99 million hectares | 3.99 million hectares | 3.99 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 4.20 million hectares | 4.20 million hectares | 4.20 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 4.40 million hectares | 4.40 million hectares | 4.40 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 4.42 million hectares | 4.42 million hectares | 4.42 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 4.81 million hectares | 4.81 million hectares | 4.81 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 4.89 million hectares | 4.89 million hectares | 4.89 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 4.54 million hectares | 4.54 million hectares | 4.54 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 4.59 million hectares | 4.59 million hectares | 4.59 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 5.08 million hectares | 5.08 million hectares | 5.08 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 5.78 million hectares | 5.78 million hectares | 5.78 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 9.84 million hectares | 6.65 million hectares | 13.07 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.96 million hectares | 13.15 million hectares | 14.63 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.56 million hectares | 11.98 million hectares | 13.10 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.75 million hectares | 11.38 million hectares | 11.97 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.05 million hectares | 10.85 million hectares | 11.30 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.50 million hectares | 10.34 million hectares | 10.85 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.26 million hectares | 10.22 million hectares | 10.34 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.39 million hectares | 10.33 million hectares | 10.48 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More environment data for India
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 11.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 12.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.954 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.92 % 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 1.12 % 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 India?
- Land use over the long-term in India was 10.48 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 14.63 million hectares in 1966.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.94 million hectares in 1000.
- How does India rank for land use over the long-term?
- India ranks 50th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.