Land use for palm oil production in Malaysia
Malaysia: Land use for palm oil production was 5.07 million hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Land use for palm oil production in Malaysia, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 5.07 million hectares for land use for palm oil production in 2024.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use for palm oil production in Malaysia peaked at 5.23 million hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 43,302 hectares, in 1961.
That places Malaysia 2nd out of 44 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 68,983 hectares | 43,302 hectares | 125,400 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 381,165 hectares | 149,900 hectares | 670,299 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.17 million hectares | 777,388 hectares | 1.67 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.53 million hectares | 1.75 million hectares | 3.31 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.99 million hectares | 3.38 million hectares | 4.69 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.02 million hectares | 4.69 million hectares | 5.23 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.14 million hectares | 5.07 million hectares | 5.23 million hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More environment data for Malaysia
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 332.17 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 9.34 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 3.89 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0205 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 9.39 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0252 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 26.26 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0898 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.3735 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 12.28 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land use for palm oil production in Malaysia?
- Land use for palm oil production in Malaysia was 5.07 million hectares in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land use for palm oil production recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.23 million hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest land use for palm oil production recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 43,302 hectares in 1961.
- How does Malaysia rank for land use for palm oil production?
- Malaysia ranks 2nd out of 44 countries with data for 2024.
- Is land use for palm oil production rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Land use for palm oil production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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