Land use in Iran
Iran: Land use was 17.59 million hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
17.59 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
22nd
of 224 countries
All-time high
18.71 million hectares
in 1995
All-time low
13.71 million hectares
in 1980
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Land use in Iran, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Iran recorded 17.59 million hectares for land use in 2023.
The figure is up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use in Iran peaked at 18.71 million hectares in 1995 and was at its lowest, 13.71 million hectares, in 1980.
Iran ranks 22nd of 224 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Land use in Iran, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 15.27 million hectares | — |
| 1962 | 15.29 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 15.35 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 15.41 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 15.47 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 15.48 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 15.55 million hectares | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 15.60 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 15.67 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 15.70 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 16.15 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 16.80 million hectares | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 17.48 million hectares | +4.1% |
| 1974 | 16.96 million hectares | -3.0% |
| 1975 | 16.44 million hectares | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 15.95 million hectares | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 15.69 million hectares | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 14.87 million hectares | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 15.91 million hectares | +7.0% |
| 1980 | 13.71 million hectares | -13.8% |
| 1981 | 14.28 million hectares | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 14.87 million hectares | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 15.21 million hectares | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 15.54 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 15.87 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 16.20 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 16.53 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 16.87 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 16.70 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 16.50 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 18.00 million hectares | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 18.29 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 18.65 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 18.66 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 18.71 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 18.43 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 17.83 million hectares | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 18.19 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 17.69 million hectares | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 16.28 million hectares | -7.9% |
| 2001 | 17.22 million hectares | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 17.44 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 17.66 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 17.89 million hectares | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 18.11 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 18.33 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 18.55 million hectares | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 17.18 million hectares | -7.4% |
| 2009 | 17.21 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 17.06 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 16.92 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 16.77 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 16.48 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 16.48 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 16.48 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 16.48 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 16.96 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 17.44 million hectares | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 17.51 million hectares | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 17.55 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 17.59 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 17.59 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 17.59 million hectares | +0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 17.59 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.58 million hectares, 11.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 17.59 million hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.45 million hectares, 12.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.45 million hectares | 15.27 million hectares | 15.67 million hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 16.20 million hectares | 14.87 million hectares | 17.48 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.58 million hectares | 13.71 million hectares | 16.87 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.09 million hectares | 16.50 million hectares | 18.71 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.59 million hectares | 16.28 million hectares | 18.55 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.86 million hectares | 16.48 million hectares | 17.51 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.58 million hectares | 17.55 million hectares | 17.59 million hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More environment data for Iran
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -30.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.4 % 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 1.9 % 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 -0.0807 % 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 in Iran?
- Land use in Iran was 17.59 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 18.71 million hectares in 1995.
- What is the lowest land use recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.71 million hectares in 1980.
- How does Iran rank for land use?
- Iran ranks 22nd out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is land use rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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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