Land use in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Land use was 8.12 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
8.12 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
42nd
of 224 countries
All-time high
8.12 million hectares
in 2023
All-time low
7.75 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Land use in Afghanistan, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for land use in Afghanistan is 8.12 million hectares, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use in Afghanistan peaked at 8.12 million hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.75 million hectares, in 1961.
That places Afghanistan 42nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Land use in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7.75 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 7.80 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 7.85 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 7.96 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 7.98 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 7.98 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 8.00 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 8.01 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 8.04 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 8.05 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 8.05 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 8.04 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 8.04 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 8.04 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 8.04 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 8.03 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 8.03 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 7.93 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 7.81 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 7.76 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 7.76 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 7.79 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 7.87 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 7.76 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 7.79 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 7.79 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7.79 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 7.88 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 7.93 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 7.92 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 7.91 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 7.92 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7.92 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 7.92 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 7.92 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 7.91 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 7.91 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7.91 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8.01 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 8.01 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 8.05 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.12 million hectares | +0.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 8.12 million hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.60 million hectares, 2.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 8.12 million hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.45 million hectares, 5.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.90 million hectares | 7.75 million hectares | 8.00 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 8.04 million hectares | 8.01 million hectares | 8.05 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.05 million hectares | 8.04 million hectares | 8.05 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.88 million hectares | 7.76 million hectares | 8.04 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.88 million hectares | 7.79 million hectares | 7.93 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.93 million hectares | 7.91 million hectares | 8.01 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.07 million hectares | 8.05 million hectares | 8.12 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More environment data for Afghanistan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -19.95 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -17.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.547 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.96 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.85 % 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 0.7636 % 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 in Afghanistan?
- Land use in Afghanistan was 8.12 million hectares in 2023, 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 recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.12 million hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest land use recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.75 million hectares in 1961.
- How does Afghanistan rank for land use?
- Afghanistan ranks 42nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is land use rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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