Land use in Central African Republic
Central African Republic: Land use was 2.68 million hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
2.68 million hectares
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
78th
of 224 countries
All-time high
2.68 million hectares
in 2023
All-time low
1.74 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Land use in Central African Republic, 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 Central African Republic is 2.68 million hectares, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 40.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use in Central African Republic peaked at 2.68 million hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.74 million hectares, in 1961.
That places Central African Republic 78th out of 224 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Land use in Central African Republic, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.74 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 1.76 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 1.77 million hectares | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 1.78 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 1.79 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 1.80 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 1.81 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 1.82 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 1.83 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 1.84 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 1.85 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 1.86 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 1.87 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 1.90 million hectares | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 1.93 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 1.94 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 1.95 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 1.96 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 1.95 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 1.96 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 1.94 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 1.95 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 1.95 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.95 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 1.96 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 1.96 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1.97 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 1.96 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 2.01 million hectares | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 1.98 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 1.98 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 1.98 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 1.98 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.98 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 1.98 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.98 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 1.98 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.98 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 1.98 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.98 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.97 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 1.96 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 1.96 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 1.96 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 1.96 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 1.96 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.96 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 1.93 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 1.90 million hectares | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 1.90 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.91 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 1.92 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 1.93 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 1.93 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.93 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.18 million hectares | +13.2% |
| 2019 | 2.50 million hectares | +14.8% |
| 2020 | 2.60 million hectares | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 2.62 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 2.64 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 2.68 million hectares | +1.4% |
Central African Republic compared with similar countries
- Central African Republic's 2.68 million hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.60 million hectares, 74% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Central African Republic's 2.68 million hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.21 million hectares, 83% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.78 million hectares | 1.74 million hectares | 1.82 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.89 million hectares | 1.83 million hectares | 1.95 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.95 million hectares | 1.94 million hectares | 1.97 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.98 million hectares | 1.96 million hectares | 2.01 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.97 million hectares | 1.96 million hectares | 1.98 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.00 million hectares | 1.90 million hectares | 2.50 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.63 million hectares | 2.60 million hectares | 2.68 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Central African Republic
More environment data for Central African Republic
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -17.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -17.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.3 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 5.22 % 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 1.2 % 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 Central African Republic?
- Land use in Central African Republic was 2.68 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 Central African Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 2.68 million hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest land use recorded in Central African Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.74 million hectares in 1961.
- How does Central African Republic rank for land use?
- Central African Republic ranks 78th out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is land use rising or falling in Central African Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Central African Republic 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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