Land use over the long-term in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Land use over the long-term was 440,000 hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
440,000 hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
124th
of 202 countries
All-time high
440,000 hectares
in 1993
All-time low
41,001 hectares
in 1820
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 440,000 hectares, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in Sri Lanka peaked at 440,000 hectares in 1993 and was at its lowest, 41,001 hectares, in 1820.
That places Sri Lanka 124th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 48,751 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 52,930 hectares | +8.6% |
| 1200 | 56,517 hectares | +6.8% |
| 1300 | 52,399 hectares | -7.3% |
| 1400 | 47,679 hectares | -9.0% |
| 1500 | 48,183 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1600 | 55,804 hectares | +15.8% |
| 1700 | 60,645 hectares | +8.7% |
| 1710 | 60,264 hectares | -0.6% |
| 1720 | 58,368 hectares | -3.1% |
| 1730 | 56,504 hectares | -3.2% |
| 1740 | 54,673 hectares | -3.2% |
| 1750 | 52,873 hectares | -3.3% |
| 1760 | 51,102 hectares | -3.3% |
| 1770 | 49,359 hectares | -3.4% |
| 1780 | 47,642 hectares | -3.5% |
| 1790 | 45,950 hectares | -3.6% |
| 1800 | 44,281 hectares | -3.6% |
| 1810 | 42,632 hectares | -3.7% |
| 1820 | 41,001 hectares | -3.8% |
| 1830 | 46,993 hectares | +14.6% |
| 1840 | 57,481 hectares | +22.3% |
| 1850 | 203,848 hectares | +254.6% |
| 1860 | 214,577 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1870 | 225,870 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1880 | 237,758 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1890 | 250,272 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1900 | 263,444 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1910 | 277,310 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1920 | 291,905 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1930 | 307,268 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1940 | 323,440 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1950 | 340,464 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1951 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 340,464 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 185,000 hectares | -45.7% |
| 1961 | 185,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 185,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 185,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 230,000 hectares | +24.3% |
| 1965 | 280,000 hectares | +21.7% |
| 1966 | 330,000 hectares | +17.9% |
| 1967 | 380,000 hectares | +15.2% |
| 1968 | 439,000 hectares | +15.5% |
| 1969 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 439,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 440,000 hectares | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 440,000 hectares | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 440,000 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.58 million hectares, 28% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 440,000 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 600,000 hectares, 73% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 48,751 hectares | 48,751 hectares | 48,751 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 52,930 hectares | 52,930 hectares | 52,930 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 56,517 hectares | 56,517 hectares | 56,517 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 52,399 hectares | 52,399 hectares | 52,399 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 47,679 hectares | 47,679 hectares | 47,679 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 48,183 hectares | 48,183 hectares | 48,183 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 55,804 hectares | 55,804 hectares | 55,804 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 60,645 hectares | 60,645 hectares | 60,645 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 60,264 hectares | 60,264 hectares | 60,264 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 58,368 hectares | 58,368 hectares | 58,368 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 56,504 hectares | 56,504 hectares | 56,504 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 54,673 hectares | 54,673 hectares | 54,673 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 52,873 hectares | 52,873 hectares | 52,873 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 51,102 hectares | 51,102 hectares | 51,102 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 49,359 hectares | 49,359 hectares | 49,359 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 47,642 hectares | 47,642 hectares | 47,642 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 45,950 hectares | 45,950 hectares | 45,950 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 44,281 hectares | 44,281 hectares | 44,281 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 42,632 hectares | 42,632 hectares | 42,632 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 41,001 hectares | 41,001 hectares | 41,001 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 46,993 hectares | 46,993 hectares | 46,993 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 57,481 hectares | 57,481 hectares | 57,481 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 203,848 hectares | 203,848 hectares | 203,848 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 214,577 hectares | 214,577 hectares | 214,577 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 225,870 hectares | 225,870 hectares | 225,870 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 237,758 hectares | 237,758 hectares | 237,758 hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 250,272 hectares | 250,272 hectares | 250,272 hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 263,444 hectares | 263,444 hectares | 263,444 hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 277,310 hectares | 277,310 hectares | 277,310 hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 291,905 hectares | 291,905 hectares | 291,905 hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 307,268 hectares | 307,268 hectares | 307,268 hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 323,440 hectares | 323,440 hectares | 323,440 hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 340,464 hectares | 340,464 hectares | 340,464 hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 283,800 hectares | 185,000 hectares | 439,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 439,000 hectares | 439,000 hectares | 439,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 439,000 hectares | 439,000 hectares | 439,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 439,700 hectares | 439,000 hectares | 440,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 440,000 hectares | 440,000 hectares | 440,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 440,000 hectares | 440,000 hectares | 440,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 440,000 hectares | 440,000 hectares | 440,000 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More environment data for Sri Lanka
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.24 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 5.49 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.207 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.849 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 5.63 % 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 1.22 % 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 Sri Lanka?
- Land use over the long-term in Sri Lanka was 440,000 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 440,000 hectares in 1993.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 41,001 hectares in 1820.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for land use over the long-term?
- Sri Lanka ranks 124th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.
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About this data
Total grazingland area for each separate country over time.