Land use over the long-term in United States
United States: Land use over the long-term was 257.67 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
257.67 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
3rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
265.00 million hectares
in 1962
All-time low
0 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Land use over the long-term in United States, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
United States recorded 257.67 million hectares for land use over the long-term in 2025.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use over the long-term in United States peaked at 265.00 million hectares in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 1000.
That places United States 3rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land use over the long-term in United States, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1200 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1300 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1400 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1500 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1600 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1700 | 3.66 million hectares | — |
| 1710 | 4.26 million hectares | +16.5% |
| 1720 | 4.92 million hectares | +15.5% |
| 1730 | 5.65 million hectares | +14.8% |
| 1740 | 6.70 million hectares | +18.7% |
| 1750 | 7.65 million hectares | +14.1% |
| 1760 | 9.84 million hectares | +28.6% |
| 1770 | 11.21 million hectares | +14.0% |
| 1780 | 12.90 million hectares | +15.1% |
| 1790 | 15.14 million hectares | +17.4% |
| 1800 | 18.44 million hectares | +21.8% |
| 1810 | 20.55 million hectares | +11.5% |
| 1820 | 22.94 million hectares | +11.6% |
| 1830 | 25.66 million hectares | +11.8% |
| 1840 | 28.88 million hectares | +12.6% |
| 1850 | 32.98 million hectares | +14.2% |
| 1860 | 44.46 million hectares | +34.8% |
| 1870 | 39.90 million hectares | -10.2% |
| 1880 | 74.31 million hectares | +86.2% |
| 1890 | 83.11 million hectares | +11.8% |
| 1900 | 145.20 million hectares | +74.7% |
| 1910 | 152.80 million hectares | +5.2% |
| 1920 | 162.00 million hectares | +6.0% |
| 1930 | 185.60 million hectares | +14.6% |
| 1940 | 224.40 million hectares | +20.9% |
| 1950 | 248.00 million hectares | +10.5% |
| 1951 | 249.70 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1952 | 251.40 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1953 | 253.10 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1954 | 254.80 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 256.50 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1956 | 258.20 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 259.90 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1958 | 261.60 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1959 | 263.30 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 265.00 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1961 | 265.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 265.00 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 260.00 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1964 | 259.17 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 257.45 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 255.73 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 254.00 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 252.28 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 250.56 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 248.83 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1971 | 247.11 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 245.39 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 243.66 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1974 | 241.94 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 241.94 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 241.94 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 242.04 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 237.54 million hectares | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 237.54 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 237.54 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 237.54 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 241.60 million hectares | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 241.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 241.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 241.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 241.60 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 239.17 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 239.17 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 239.17 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 239.17 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 239.17 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 239.25 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 238.00 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 237.00 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 236.00 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 235.00 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 234.79 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 235.30 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 235.82 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 236.33 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 236.84 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 237.36 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 237.36 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 237.36 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 237.36 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 237.36 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 248.38 million hectares | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 248.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 248.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 248.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 248.38 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 257.67 million hectares | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 257.67 million hectares | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 257.67 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 395,224 hectares, 652.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use over the long-term in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | +86.2% | 39.90 million hectares | 74.31 million hectares |
| 1900 | +74.7% | 83.11 million hectares | 145.20 million hectares |
| 1860 | +34.8% | 32.98 million hectares | 44.46 million hectares |
| 1760 | +28.6% | 7.65 million hectares | 9.84 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.66 million hectares | 3.66 million hectares | 3.66 million hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 4.26 million hectares | 4.26 million hectares | 4.26 million hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 4.92 million hectares | 4.92 million hectares | 4.92 million hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 5.65 million hectares | 5.65 million hectares | 5.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 6.70 million hectares | 6.70 million hectares | 6.70 million hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 7.65 million hectares | 7.65 million hectares | 7.65 million hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 9.84 million hectares | 9.84 million hectares | 9.84 million hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 11.21 million hectares | 11.21 million hectares | 11.21 million hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 12.90 million hectares | 12.90 million hectares | 12.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 15.14 million hectares | 15.14 million hectares | 15.14 million hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 18.44 million hectares | 18.44 million hectares | 18.44 million hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 20.55 million hectares | 20.55 million hectares | 20.55 million hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 22.94 million hectares | 22.94 million hectares | 22.94 million hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 25.66 million hectares | 25.66 million hectares | 25.66 million hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 28.88 million hectares | 28.88 million hectares | 28.88 million hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 32.98 million hectares | 32.98 million hectares | 32.98 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 44.46 million hectares | 44.46 million hectares | 44.46 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 39.90 million hectares | 39.90 million hectares | 39.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 74.31 million hectares | 74.31 million hectares | 74.31 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 83.11 million hectares | 83.11 million hectares | 83.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 145.20 million hectares | 145.20 million hectares | 145.20 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 152.80 million hectares | 152.80 million hectares | 152.80 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 162.00 million hectares | 162.00 million hectares | 162.00 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 185.60 million hectares | 185.60 million hectares | 185.60 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 224.40 million hectares | 224.40 million hectares | 224.40 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 255.65 million hectares | 248.00 million hectares | 263.30 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 258.42 million hectares | 250.56 million hectares | 265.00 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 242.79 million hectares | 237.54 million hectares | 248.83 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 240.06 million hectares | 237.54 million hectares | 241.60 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 236.95 million hectares | 234.79 million hectares | 239.25 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 240.51 million hectares | 236.33 million hectares | 248.38 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 255.81 million hectares | 248.38 million hectares | 257.67 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 257.67 million hectares | 257.67 million hectares | 257.67 million hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 1 China 392.61 million hectares compare
- 2 Australia 318.70 million hectares compare
- 4 Brazil 210.81 million hectares compare
- 5 Kazakhstan 183.11 million hectares compare
- 6 Saudi Arabia 134.05 million hectares compare
More environment data for United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % 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 0.1269 % 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 United States?
- Land use over the long-term in United States was 257.67 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 265.00 million hectares in 1962.
- What is the lowest land use over the long-term recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 1000.
- How does United States rank for land use over the long-term?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is land use over the long-term rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.