Land use over the long-term in Namibia
Namibia: Land use over the long-term was 38.00 million hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
38.00 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
17th
of 202 countries
All-time high
38.56 million hectares
in 2006
All-time low
224,953 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Namibia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 38.00 million hectares for land use over the long-term in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Namibia peaked at 38.56 million hectares in 2006 and was at its lowest, 224,953 hectares, in 1000.
That places Namibia 17th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Land use over the long-term in Namibia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 224,953 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 322,155 hectares | +43.2% |
| 1200 | 461,358 hectares | +43.2% |
| 1300 | 660,711 hectares | +43.2% |
| 1400 | 946,203 hectares | +43.2% |
| 1500 | 1.36 million hectares | +43.2% |
| 1600 | 1.94 million hectares | +43.2% |
| 1700 | 2.78 million hectares | +43.2% |
| 1710 | 3.65 million hectares | +31.2% |
| 1720 | 4.78 million hectares | +31.1% |
| 1730 | 6.27 million hectares | +31.1% |
| 1740 | 8.21 million hectares | +31.1% |
| 1750 | 10.76 million hectares | +31.0% |
| 1760 | 10.57 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1770 | 10.38 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1780 | 10.19 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 1790 | 10.00 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1800 | 9.81 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1810 | 9.62 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1820 | 9.43 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 1830 | 9.24 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 1840 | 9.05 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 1850 | 8.86 million hectares | -2.1% |
| 1860 | 9.80 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 1870 | 10.84 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 1880 | 11.98 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 1890 | 13.25 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 1900 | 14.65 million hectares | +10.6% |
| 1910 | 17.24 million hectares | +17.7% |
| 1920 | 20.11 million hectares | +16.6% |
| 1930 | 24.76 million hectares | +23.1% |
| 1940 | 30.24 million hectares | +22.1% |
| 1950 | 37.14 million hectares | +22.8% |
| 1951 | 37.12 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1952 | 37.12 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 37.15 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1954 | 37.20 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 37.26 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1956 | 37.35 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1957 | 37.44 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 37.56 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1959 | 37.69 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 37.83 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1961 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 35.94 million hectares | -5.4% |
| 1993 | 35.47 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 34.76 million hectares | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 38.00 million hectares | +9.3% |
| 1996 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 38.56 million hectares | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 38.00 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 37.95 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 38.05 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 38.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 38.09 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 38.09 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 38.00 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 38.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 38.00 million hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.30 million hectares, 11.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 38.00 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.45 million hectares, 5.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use over the long-term in Namibia 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 | +43.2% | 224,953 hectares | 322,155 hectares |
| 1200 | +43.2% | 322,155 hectares | 461,358 hectares |
| 1300 | +43.2% | 461,358 hectares | 660,711 hectares |
| 1400 | +43.2% | 660,711 hectares | 946,203 hectares |
| 1500 | +43.2% | 946,203 hectares | 1.36 million hectares |
| 1700 | +43.2% | 1.94 million hectares | 2.78 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 224,953 hectares | 224,953 hectares | 224,953 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 322,155 hectares | 322,155 hectares | 322,155 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 461,358 hectares | 461,358 hectares | 461,358 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 660,711 hectares | 660,711 hectares | 660,711 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 946,203 hectares | 946,203 hectares | 946,203 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.36 million hectares | 1.36 million hectares | 1.36 million hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.94 million hectares | 1.94 million hectares | 1.94 million hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.78 million hectares | 2.78 million hectares | 2.78 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.65 million hectares | 3.65 million hectares | 3.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 4.78 million hectares | 4.78 million hectares | 4.78 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 6.27 million hectares | 6.27 million hectares | 6.27 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 8.21 million hectares | 8.21 million hectares | 8.21 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 10.76 million hectares | 10.76 million hectares | 10.76 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 10.57 million hectares | 10.57 million hectares | 10.57 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 10.38 million hectares | 10.38 million hectares | 10.38 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 10.19 million hectares | 10.19 million hectares | 10.19 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 10.00 million hectares | 10.00 million hectares | 10.00 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 9.81 million hectares | 9.81 million hectares | 9.81 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 9.62 million hectares | 9.62 million hectares | 9.62 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 9.43 million hectares | 9.43 million hectares | 9.43 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 9.24 million hectares | 9.24 million hectares | 9.24 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 9.05 million hectares | 9.05 million hectares | 9.05 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 8.86 million hectares | 8.86 million hectares | 8.86 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 9.80 million hectares | 9.80 million hectares | 9.80 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 10.84 million hectares | 10.84 million hectares | 10.84 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 11.98 million hectares | 11.98 million hectares | 11.98 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 13.25 million hectares | 13.25 million hectares | 13.25 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 14.65 million hectares | 14.65 million hectares | 14.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 17.24 million hectares | 17.24 million hectares | 17.24 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 20.11 million hectares | 20.11 million hectares | 20.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 24.76 million hectares | 24.76 million hectares | 24.76 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 30.24 million hectares | 30.24 million hectares | 30.24 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 37.30 million hectares | 37.12 million hectares | 37.69 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 37.98 million hectares | 37.83 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 38.00 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 38.00 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.22 million hectares | 34.76 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.05 million hectares | 37.95 million hectares | 38.56 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.03 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 38.09 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.00 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 38.00 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 14 Somalia 43.00 million hectares compare
- 15 Angola 40.28 million hectares compare
- 16 Mauritania 39.25 million hectares compare
- 18 Madagascar 37.30 million hectares compare
- 19 Turkmenistan 37.17 million hectares compare
- 20 Colombia 35.30 million hectares compare
More environment data for Namibia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.14 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.319 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.979 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.32 % 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 4.07 % 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 Namibia?
- Land use over the long-term in Namibia was 38.00 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 38.56 million hectares in 2006.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 224,953 hectares in 1000.
- How does Namibia rank for land use over the long-term?
- Namibia ranks 17th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia 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.