Land use over the long-term in Iraq
Iraq: Land use over the long-term was 3.97 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3.97 million hectares
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
69th
of 202 countries
All-time high
4.10 million hectares
in 1961
All-time low
780,850 hectares
in 1800
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Iraq, 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 Iraq stood at 3.97 million hectares.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Iraq peaked at 4.10 million hectares in 1961 and was at its lowest, 780,850 hectares, in 1800.
Iraq ranks 69th 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 2.10 million hectares | — |
| 1100 | 1.80 million hectares | -14.5% |
| 1200 | 1.38 million hectares | -23.4% |
| 1300 | 974,174 hectares | -29.3% |
| 1400 | 944,368 hectares | -3.1% |
| 1500 | 911,490 hectares | -3.5% |
| 1600 | 1.09 million hectares | +19.9% |
| 1700 | 831,702 hectares | -23.9% |
| 1710 | 827,130 hectares | -0.5% |
| 1720 | 822,463 hectares | -0.6% |
| 1730 | 817,693 hectares | -0.6% |
| 1740 | 812,815 hectares | -0.6% |
| 1750 | 807,823 hectares | -0.6% |
| 1760 | 802,709 hectares | -0.6% |
| 1770 | 797,464 hectares | -0.7% |
| 1780 | 792,080 hectares | -0.7% |
| 1790 | 786,546 hectares | -0.7% |
| 1800 | 780,850 hectares | -0.7% |
| 1810 | 815,630 hectares | +4.5% |
| 1820 | 851,698 hectares | +4.4% |
| 1830 | 889,063 hectares | +4.4% |
| 1840 | 927,722 hectares | +4.3% |
| 1850 | 967,662 hectares | +4.3% |
| 1860 | 1.01 million hectares | +4.3% |
| 1870 | 1.14 million hectares | +13.1% |
| 1880 | 1.29 million hectares | +13.1% |
| 1890 | 1.46 million hectares | +13.0% |
| 1900 | 1.65 million hectares | +12.9% |
| 1910 | 1.86 million hectares | +12.8% |
| 1920 | 2.03 million hectares | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 1.96 million hectares | -3.7% |
| 1940 | 2.87 million hectares | +46.8% |
| 1950 | 3.57 million hectares | +24.3% |
| 1951 | 3.64 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 3.71 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 3.76 million hectares | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 3.80 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 3.84 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 3.89 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 3.93 million hectares | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 3.97 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 4.02 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 4.10 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 4.10 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 4.10 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 4.00 million hectares | -2.4% |
| 1965 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 4.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3.98 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 3.98 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.98 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 3.98 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 3.97 million hectares | -0.1% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 3.97 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.58 million hectares, 2.5× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 3.97 million hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.84 million hectares, 1.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.10 million hectares | 2.10 million hectares | 2.10 million hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 1.80 million hectares | 1.80 million hectares | 1.80 million hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 1.38 million hectares | 1.38 million hectares | 1.38 million hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 974,174 hectares | 974,174 hectares | 974,174 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 944,368 hectares | 944,368 hectares | 944,368 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 911,490 hectares | 911,490 hectares | 911,490 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.09 million hectares | 1.09 million hectares | 1.09 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 831,702 hectares | 831,702 hectares | 831,702 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 827,130 hectares | 827,130 hectares | 827,130 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 822,463 hectares | 822,463 hectares | 822,463 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 817,693 hectares | 817,693 hectares | 817,693 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 812,815 hectares | 812,815 hectares | 812,815 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 807,823 hectares | 807,823 hectares | 807,823 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 802,709 hectares | 802,709 hectares | 802,709 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 797,464 hectares | 797,464 hectares | 797,464 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 792,080 hectares | 792,080 hectares | 792,080 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 786,546 hectares | 786,546 hectares | 786,546 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 780,850 hectares | 780,850 hectares | 780,850 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 815,630 hectares | 815,630 hectares | 815,630 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 851,698 hectares | 851,698 hectares | 851,698 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 889,063 hectares | 889,063 hectares | 889,063 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 927,722 hectares | 927,722 hectares | 927,722 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 967,662 hectares | 967,662 hectares | 967,662 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.01 million hectares | 1.01 million hectares | 1.01 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.14 million hectares | 1.14 million hectares | 1.14 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.29 million hectares | 1.29 million hectares | 1.29 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.46 million hectares | 1.46 million hectares | 1.46 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.65 million hectares | 1.65 million hectares | 1.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.86 million hectares | 1.86 million hectares | 1.86 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 2.03 million hectares | 2.03 million hectares | 2.03 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 1.96 million hectares | 1.96 million hectares | 1.96 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 2.87 million hectares | 2.87 million hectares | 2.87 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 3.81 million hectares | 3.57 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.03 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 4.10 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.98 million hectares | 3.97 million hectares | 4.00 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More environment data for Iraq
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % 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 6.65 % 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 Iraq?
- Land use over the long-term in Iraq was 3.97 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 4.10 million hectares in 1961.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 780,850 hectares in 1800.
- How does Iraq rank for land use over the long-term?
- Iraq ranks 69th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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.