Land use over the long-term in Laos
Laos: Land use over the long-term was 677,000 hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
677,000 hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
114th
of 202 countries
All-time high
900,000 hectares
in 1960
All-time low
204,054 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Laos, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Laos recorded 677,000 hectares for land use over the long-term in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Laos peaked at 900,000 hectares in 1960 and was at its lowest, 204,054 hectares, in 1000.
Laos ranks 114th 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 Laos, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 204,054 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 212,658 hectares | +4.2% |
| 1200 | 217,926 hectares | +2.5% |
| 1300 | 234,736 hectares | +7.7% |
| 1400 | 250,663 hectares | +6.8% |
| 1500 | 265,748 hectares | +6.0% |
| 1600 | 324,399 hectares | +22.1% |
| 1700 | 379,833 hectares | +17.1% |
| 1710 | 376,397 hectares | -0.9% |
| 1720 | 454,631 hectares | +20.8% |
| 1730 | 451,438 hectares | -0.7% |
| 1740 | 448,119 hectares | -0.7% |
| 1750 | 419,962 hectares | -6.3% |
| 1760 | 392,063 hectares | -6.6% |
| 1770 | 388,739 hectares | -0.8% |
| 1780 | 385,386 hectares | -0.9% |
| 1790 | 382,013 hectares | -0.9% |
| 1800 | 378,465 hectares | -0.9% |
| 1810 | 411,486 hectares | +8.7% |
| 1820 | 442,215 hectares | +7.5% |
| 1830 | 574,399 hectares | +29.9% |
| 1840 | 609,083 hectares | +6.0% |
| 1850 | 641,838 hectares | +5.4% |
| 1860 | 635,327 hectares | -1.0% |
| 1870 | 623,736 hectares | -1.8% |
| 1880 | 647,899 hectares | +3.9% |
| 1890 | 670,647 hectares | +3.5% |
| 1900 | 692,053 hectares | +3.2% |
| 1910 | 662,088 hectares | -4.3% |
| 1920 | 668,300 hectares | +0.9% |
| 1930 | 673,860 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1940 | 828,406 hectares | +22.9% |
| 1950 | 837,447 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1951 | 837,872 hectares | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 791,470 hectares | -5.5% |
| 1953 | 744,818 hectares | -5.9% |
| 1954 | 744,510 hectares | -0.0% |
| 1955 | 744,187 hectares | -0.0% |
| 1956 | 743,884 hectares | -0.0% |
| 1957 | 743,312 hectares | -0.1% |
| 1958 | 742,106 hectares | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 740,132 hectares | -0.3% |
| 1960 | 900,000 hectares | +21.6% |
| 1961 | 900,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 900,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 850,000 hectares | -5.6% |
| 1964 | 800,000 hectares | -5.9% |
| 1965 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 800,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 826,000 hectares | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 825,000 hectares | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 815,000 hectares | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 805,000 hectares | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 790,000 hectares | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 780,000 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 770,000 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 760,000 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 750,000 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 735,000 hectares | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 725,000 hectares | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 715,000 hectares | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 700,000 hectares | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 690,000 hectares | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 680,000 hectares | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 680,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 677,000 hectares | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 677,000 hectares | +0.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 677,000 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.30 million hectares, 21% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Laos's 677,000 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 190,000 hectares, 3.6× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use over the long-term in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | +29.9% | 442,215 hectares | 574,399 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 204,054 hectares | 204,054 hectares | 204,054 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 212,658 hectares | 212,658 hectares | 212,658 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 217,926 hectares | 217,926 hectares | 217,926 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 234,736 hectares | 234,736 hectares | 234,736 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 250,663 hectares | 250,663 hectares | 250,663 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 265,748 hectares | 265,748 hectares | 265,748 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 324,399 hectares | 324,399 hectares | 324,399 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 379,833 hectares | 379,833 hectares | 379,833 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 376,397 hectares | 376,397 hectares | 376,397 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 454,631 hectares | 454,631 hectares | 454,631 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 451,438 hectares | 451,438 hectares | 451,438 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 448,119 hectares | 448,119 hectares | 448,119 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 419,962 hectares | 419,962 hectares | 419,962 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 392,063 hectares | 392,063 hectares | 392,063 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 388,739 hectares | 388,739 hectares | 388,739 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 385,386 hectares | 385,386 hectares | 385,386 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 382,013 hectares | 382,013 hectares | 382,013 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 378,465 hectares | 378,465 hectares | 378,465 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 411,486 hectares | 411,486 hectares | 411,486 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 442,215 hectares | 442,215 hectares | 442,215 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 574,399 hectares | 574,399 hectares | 574,399 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 609,083 hectares | 609,083 hectares | 609,083 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 641,838 hectares | 641,838 hectares | 641,838 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 635,327 hectares | 635,327 hectares | 635,327 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 623,736 hectares | 623,736 hectares | 623,736 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 647,899 hectares | 647,899 hectares | 647,899 hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 670,647 hectares | 670,647 hectares | 670,647 hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 692,053 hectares | 692,053 hectares | 692,053 hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 662,088 hectares | 662,088 hectares | 662,088 hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 668,300 hectares | 668,300 hectares | 668,300 hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 673,860 hectares | 673,860 hectares | 673,860 hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 828,406 hectares | 828,406 hectares | 828,406 hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 766,974 hectares | 740,132 hectares | 837,872 hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 835,000 hectares | 800,000 hectares | 900,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 800,000 hectares | 800,000 hectares | 800,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 800,000 hectares | 800,000 hectares | 800,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 806,600 hectares | 800,000 hectares | 826,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 753,000 hectares | 700,000 hectares | 805,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 678,900 hectares | 677,000 hectares | 690,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 677,000 hectares | 677,000 hectares | 677,000 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 111 North Macedonia 798,100 hectares compare
- 112 Netherlands 768,182 hectares compare
- 113 Hungary 724,017 hectares compare
- 115 Vietnam 642,000 hectares compare
- 116 Bangladesh 600,000 hectares compare
- 117 Guyana 594,000 hectares compare
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % 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 0.4183 % 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 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land use over the long-term in Laos?
- Land use over the long-term in Laos was 677,000 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 900,000 hectares in 1960.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 204,054 hectares in 1000.
- How does Laos rank for land use over the long-term?
- Laos ranks 114th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos 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.