Land use in India
India: Land use was 168.32 million hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
168.32 million hectares
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
2nd
of 224 countries
All-time high
170.32 million hectares
in 1994
All-time low
160.99 million hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Land use in India, 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 India is 168.32 million hectares, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use in India peaked at 170.32 million hectares in 1994 and was at its lowest, 160.99 million hectares, in 1961.
That places India 2nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Land use in India, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 160.99 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 162.40 million hectares | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 162.05 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 162.12 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 162.43 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 162.72 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 163.79 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 164.57 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 164.48 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 165.06 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 164.56 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 164.99 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 166.04 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 166.50 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 166.84 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 167.06 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 167.06 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 168.24 million hectares | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 168.44 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 168.15 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 168.41 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 168.75 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 168.53 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 169.42 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 169.34 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 169.41 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 169.71 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 169.37 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 169.98 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 170.11 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 170.18 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 170.01 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 170.29 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 170.32 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 169.91 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 169.53 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 170.10 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 170.03 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 170.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 170.13 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 169.82 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 170.03 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 169.80 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 169.89 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 169.67 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 169.46 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 169.20 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 169.40 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 169.72 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 169.23 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 169.37 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 169.35 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 169.44 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 169.46 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 169.41 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 169.32 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 168.90 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 168.78 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 168.67 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 168.05 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 168.14 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 168.23 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 168.32 million hectares | +0.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 168.32 million hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.82 million hectares, 59.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 168.32 million hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.26 million hectares, 74.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 162.84 million hectares | 160.99 million hectares | 164.57 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 166.48 million hectares | 164.56 million hectares | 168.44 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 169.11 million hectares | 168.15 million hectares | 169.98 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 170.06 million hectares | 169.53 million hectares | 170.32 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 169.71 million hectares | 169.20 million hectares | 170.13 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 169.19 million hectares | 168.67 million hectares | 169.46 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 168.19 million hectares | 168.05 million hectares | 168.32 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More environment data for India
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 11.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 12.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.954 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.92 % 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 1.12 % 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 India?
- Land use in India was 168.32 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 170.32 million hectares in 1994.
- What is the lowest land use recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 160.99 million hectares in 1961.
- How does India rank for land use?
- India ranks 2nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is land use rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this India 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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