Terrestrial barren land — Area from MODIS by country
The FAOSTAT domain on Land Cover data under the Agri-Environmental Indicators section contains land cover information organized by the land cover classes of the international standard system for Environmental and Economic Accounting Central Framework (SEEA CF). The land cover information is compiled from publicly...
Countries reporting
234
Highest
220,023 1000 ha
China
Lowest
0 1000 ha
Norfolk Island
Median
3.12 1000 ha
Years covered
24
2001–2024
Data points
6,390
What the numbers show
Terrestrial barren land — Area from MODIS is currently reported for 234 countries. The highest value is 220,023 1000 ha in China; the lowest is 0 1000 ha in Norfolk Island.
The median across all reporting countries is 3.12 1000 ha, and the mean is 9,979 1000 ha.
Over the past decade 63 countries rose and 146 fell. The largest increase was in Costa Rica (up 200.0%), and the largest decrease in American Samoa (down 100.0%).
Terrestrial barren land — Area from MODIS: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 220,023 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.9% | falling |
| 2 | China, mainland | 220,009 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.9% | falling |
| 2 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 96,949 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 3 | Algeria | 211,868 1000 ha | 2024 | up 1.9% | flat |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 184,840 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.1% | flat |
| 4 | Syrian Arab Republic | 9,568 1000 ha | 2024 | down 11.5% | flat |
| 5 | Libya | 158,782 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 5 | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 5,919 1000 ha | 2024 | up 4.8% | rising |
| 6 | Sudan (former) | 113,270 1000 ha | 2011 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 6 | Türkiye | 452.23 1000 ha | 2024 | down 2.3% | falling |
| 7 | Sudan | 109,141 1000 ha | 2024 | down 2.7% | flat |
| 7 | United Republic of Tanzania | 76.57 1000 ha | 2024 | down 44.7% | falling |
| 8 | Egypt | 92,423 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.8% | flat |
| 8 | Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 59.3 1000 ha | 2024 | down 5.8% | falling |
| 9 | Niger | 87,268 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.1% | flat |
| 9 | Viet Nam | 26.84 1000 ha | 2024 | down 51.7% | volatile |
| 10 | Mauritania | 87,105 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 10 | Polynesia | 16.24 1000 ha | 2024 | up 17.6% | falling |
| 11 | Mali | 73,085 1000 ha | 2024 | down 3.3% | flat |
| 11 | Micronesia | 7.56 1000 ha | 2024 | up 33.6% | falling |
| 12 | Chad | 69,462 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.1% | flat |
| 12 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 5.92 1000 ha | 2024 | down 30.9% | volatile |
| 13 | Mongolia | 47,327 1000 ha | 2024 | down 4.0% | falling |
| 13 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 5.69 1000 ha | 2024 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 14 | Canada | 44,381 1000 ha | 2024 | down 8.6% | flat |
| 14 | Melanesia | 3.55 1000 ha | 2024 | down 52.9% | falling |
| 15 | Yemen | 36,818 1000 ha | 2024 | down 4.3% | flat |
| 15 | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 2.94 1000 ha | 2024 | down 22.2% | falling |
| 16 | Pakistan | 33,071 1000 ha | 2024 | down 10.6% | falling |
| 16 | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 0.49 1000 ha | 2024 | up 157.9% | falling |
| 17 | Afghanistan | 30,947 1000 ha | 2024 | up 2.9% | falling |
| 18 | Oman | 30,045 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 18 | Timor-Leste | 0.06 1000 ha | 2024 | down 45.5% | falling |
| 19 | Turkmenistan | 29,870 1000 ha | 2024 | up 11.9% | flat |
| 19 | Republic of Moldova | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 20 | Iraq | 29,036 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.5% | flat |
| 21 | Chile | 27,842 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 22 | Western Sahara | 26,790 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 23 | Argentina | 23,169 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.1% | flat |
| 24 | Namibia | 19,784 1000 ha | 2024 | up 19.5% | rising |
| 24 | Caribbean | 79.98 1000 ha | 2024 | down 13.8% | falling |
| 25 | Kazakhstan | 19,272 1000 ha | 2024 | up 15.7% | rising |
| 25 | Cabo Verde | 75.86 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.3% | falling |
| 26 | Uzbekistan | 18,946 1000 ha | 2024 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 26 | Côte d'Ivoire | 0.28 1000 ha | 2024 | down 72.8% | volatile |
| 27 | Morocco | 18,490 1000 ha | 2024 | up 11.4% | flat |
| 28 | Somalia | 17,177 1000 ha | 2024 | down 5.8% | falling |
| 29 | Greenland | 15,130 1000 ha | 2024 | up 2.2% | falling |
| 30 | Australia and New Zealand | 13,850 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.2% | falling |
| 31 | Russian Federation | 13,458 1000 ha | 2024 | down 13.2% | falling |
| 32 | Australia | 13,433 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.1% | falling |
| 33 | Peru | 9,833 1000 ha | 2024 | down 8.7% | falling |
| 34 | Tunisia | 9,557 1000 ha | 2024 | up 5.1% | falling |
| 35 | Jordan | 7,772 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.5% | flat |
| 36 | United Arab Emirates | 6,908 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 37 | India | 6,492 1000 ha | 2024 | down 17.0% | falling |
| 38 | Tajikistan | 5,655 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 39 | Mexico | 5,562 1000 ha | 2024 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 40 | Eritrea | 5,541 1000 ha | 2024 | down 11.3% | falling |
| 41 | Ethiopia | 4,655 1000 ha | 2024 | down 20.4% | falling |
| 42 | Norway | 2,860 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.3% | falling |
| 43 | Iceland | 2,819 1000 ha | 2024 | up 6.1% | falling |
| 44 | Kyrgyzstan | 2,393 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.6% | flat |
| 45 | South Africa | 1,954 1000 ha | 2024 | up 49.2% | rising |
| 46 | Angola | 1,896 1000 ha | 2024 | up 6.9% | rising |
| 47 | Kuwait | 1,636 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 48 | Kenya | 1,427 1000 ha | 2024 | down 21.1% | falling |
| 49 | Nepal | 1,357 1000 ha | 2024 | down 3.1% | falling |
| 50 | Djibouti | 1,177 1000 ha | 2024 | down 13.2% | flat |
| 51 | Israel | 1,117 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 52 | Qatar | 1,114 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 53 | New Zealand | 415.05 1000 ha | 2024 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 54 | Ecuador | 327.56 1000 ha | 2024 | down 2.5% | falling |
| 55 | Spain | 278.26 1000 ha | 2024 | up 5.9% | falling |
| 56 | Antarctica | 273.1 1000 ha | 2024 | down 15.9% | falling |
| 57 | Brazil | 221.68 1000 ha | 2024 | down 34.0% | falling |
| 58 | Switzerland | 219.06 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 59 | Botswana | 200.38 1000 ha | 2024 | down 6.9% | falling |
| 60 | Bhutan | 184.41 1000 ha | 2024 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 61 | Sweden | 171.41 1000 ha | 2024 | down 11.7% | flat |
| 62 | Italy | 148.91 1000 ha | 2024 | down 4.8% | falling |
| 63 | France | 131.71 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.2% | falling |
| 64 | French Southern Territories | 121.8 1000 ha | 2024 | down 34.8% | falling |
| 65 | Burkina Faso | 108.97 1000 ha | 2024 | down 34.0% | falling |
| 66 | Austria | 107.94 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.3% | falling |
| 67 | Georgia | 102.03 1000 ha | 2024 | down 7.8% | falling |
| 68 | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | 94.78 1000 ha | 2024 | up 13.0% | falling |
| 69 | Myanmar | 93.87 1000 ha | 2024 | down 12.8% | falling |
| 70 | Nigeria | 84.09 1000 ha | 2024 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 71 | Azerbaijan | 83.56 1000 ha | 2024 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 72 | Palestine | 79.77 1000 ha | 2024 | down 6.6% | rising |
| 73 | Bangladesh | 68.69 1000 ha | 2024 | down 35.1% | falling |
| 74 | Senegal | 65.36 1000 ha | 2024 | down 15.7% | falling |
| 75 | Colombia | 46.2 1000 ha | 2024 | up 6.0% | falling |
| 76 | Bahrain | 44.03 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 77 | Bahamas | 42.45 1000 ha | 2024 | down 22.8% | falling |
| 78 | Cuba | 27.15 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.5% | falling |
| 79 | Madagascar | 24.54 1000 ha | 2024 | down 7.4% | flat |
| 80 | Greece | 21.3 1000 ha | 2024 | down 16.8% | falling |
| 81 | Zimbabwe | 20.37 1000 ha | 2024 | up 13.0% | rising |
| 82 | Zambia | 16.87 1000 ha | 2024 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 83 | French Polynesia | 15.38 1000 ha | 2024 | up 18.2% | falling |
| 84 | Mozambique | 13.84 1000 ha | 2024 | down 26.8% | falling |
| 85 | China, Taiwan Province of | 13.34 1000 ha | 2024 | down 30.4% | falling |
| 86 | Indonesia | 12.72 1000 ha | 2024 | down 23.4% | falling |
| 87 | Ukraine | 12.65 1000 ha | 2024 | down 23.1% | falling |
| 88 | Lebanon | 10.97 1000 ha | 2024 | up 3.3% | falling |
| 89 | Uganda | 8.87 1000 ha | 2024 | down 6.7% | rising |
| 90 | Ghana | 7.84 1000 ha | 2024 | up 14.0% | rising |
| 91 | Ascension, Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha | 7.48 1000 ha | 2024 | down 21.4% | falling |
| 92 | Portugal | 6.7 1000 ha | 2024 | down 8.2% | rising |
| 93 | Thailand | 6.59 1000 ha | 2024 | down 6.7% | volatile |
| 94 | Malawi | 6.5 1000 ha | 2024 | down 2.5% | rising |
| 95 | Finland | 6.2 1000 ha | 2024 | up 24.7% | falling |
| 96 | Japan | 5.5 1000 ha | 2024 | down 16.0% | falling |
| 97 | Armenia | 5.46 1000 ha | 2024 | up 11.9% | falling |
| 98 | Germany | 5.13 1000 ha | 2024 | down 13.2% | falling |
| 99 | Sri Lanka | 4.45 1000 ha | 2024 | down 34.6% | falling |
| 100 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 4.28 1000 ha | 2024 | down 8.4% | falling |
| 101 | Kiribati | 3.97 1000 ha | 2024 | up 44.9% | falling |
| 102 | Guinea-Bissau | 3.31 1000 ha | 2024 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 103 | Philippines | 3.29 1000 ha | 2024 | down 28.8% | falling |
| 104 | Réunion | 2.83 1000 ha | 2024 | down 31.1% | falling |
| 105 | Marshall Islands | 2.52 1000 ha | 2024 | up 57.5% | falling |
| 106 | Republic of Korea | 2.43 1000 ha | 2024 | down 25.9% | falling |
| 107 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 2.33 1000 ha | 2024 | down 17.4% | falling |
| 108 | Papua New Guinea | 2.31 1000 ha | 2024 | down 28.9% | falling |
| 109 | Cambodia | 2.25 1000 ha | 2024 | up 78.6% | falling |
| 110 | Dominican Republic | 2.23 1000 ha | 2024 | up 42.9% | rising |
| 111 | Gambia | 1.95 1000 ha | 2024 | down 47.0% | falling |
| 112 | Heard Island and McDonald Islands | 1.94 1000 ha | 2024 | up 70.2% | falling |
| 113 | South Sudan | 1.88 1000 ha | 2024 | down 26.0% | falling |
| 114 | Cameroon | 1.65 1000 ha | 2024 | down 42.9% | volatile |
| 115 | Croatia | 1.61 1000 ha | 2024 | down 37.6% | falling |
| 116 | Congo | 1.54 1000 ha | 2024 | up 63.8% | falling |
| 117 | Benin | 1.45 1000 ha | 2024 | up 45.0% | rising |
| 118 | Belize | 1.41 1000 ha | 2024 | down 59.4% | volatile |
| 119 | Denmark | 1.36 1000 ha | 2024 | down 21.4% | falling |
| 120 | Albania | 1.35 1000 ha | 2024 | down 20.6% | falling |
| 121 | Maldives | 1.32 1000 ha | 2024 | up 28.2% | falling |
| 122 | Netherlands Antilles (former) | 1.26 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.6% | falling |
| 123 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 1.23 1000 ha | 2024 | down 30.5% | falling |
| 124 | Burundi | 1.13 1000 ha | 2024 | down 37.2% | falling |
| 125 | Slovenia | 1.01 1000 ha | 2024 | up 6.3% | falling |
| 126 | Nicaragua | 0.98 1000 ha | 2022 | down 43.4% | falling |
| 127 | Uruguay | 0.92 1000 ha | 2024 | down 37.0% | falling |
| 128 | Cyprus | 0.82 1000 ha | 2024 | down 32.8% | falling |
| 129 | Haiti | 0.75 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 130 | Lesotho | 0.73 1000 ha | 2024 | down 44.3% | falling |
| 131 | Guatemala | 0.71 1000 ha | 2024 | down 10.1% | falling |
| 131 | China, Hong Kong SAR | 0.71 1000 ha | 2024 | down 7.8% | falling |
| 133 | Bulgaria | 0.65 1000 ha | 2024 | up 91.2% | falling |
| 134 | Guinea | 0.62 1000 ha | 2024 | down 46.1% | rising |
| 135 | New Caledonia | 0.6 1000 ha | 2024 | down 55.6% | falling |
| 135 | Panama | 0.6 1000 ha | 2024 | down 45.0% | falling |
| 137 | Seychelles | 0.53 1000 ha | 2024 | down 31.2% | falling |
| 138 | Romania | 0.52 1000 ha | 2024 | down 50.5% | falling |
| 139 | Mauritius | 0.51 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 139 | Malaysia | 0.51 1000 ha | 2024 | down 49.0% | falling |
| 141 | Estonia | 0.5 1000 ha | 2024 | up 22.0% | falling |
| 142 | Vanuatu | 0.45 1000 ha | 2024 | down 83.0% | falling |
| 143 | Comoros | 0.43 1000 ha | 2024 | down 30.6% | falling |
| 143 | Sierra Leone | 0.43 1000 ha | 2024 | up 19.4% | rising |
| 143 | Tokelau | 0.43 1000 ha | 2024 | up 152.9% | falling |
| 146 | Central African Republic | 0.41 1000 ha | 2024 | up 57.7% | volatile |
| 147 | Gabon | 0.38 1000 ha | 2024 | up 11.8% | falling |
| 148 | Aruba | 0.36 1000 ha | 2024 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 148 | Equatorial Guinea | 0.36 1000 ha | 2024 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 148 | Honduras | 0.36 1000 ha | 2024 | down 35.7% | volatile |
| 151 | Rwanda | 0.34 1000 ha | 2024 | down 55.8% | falling |
| 151 | British Virgin Islands | 0.34 1000 ha | 2024 | up 6.2% | falling |
| 153 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0.28 1000 ha | 2024 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 153 | Bermuda | 0.28 1000 ha | 2024 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 153 | North Macedonia | 0.28 1000 ha | 2024 | down 34.9% | falling |
| 153 | Northern Mariana Islands | 0.28 1000 ha | 2024 | down 64.6% | volatile |
| 153 | United States Virgin Islands | 0.28 1000 ha | 2024 | up 16.7% | falling |
| 158 | Poland | 0.26 1000 ha | 2024 | down 53.6% | falling |
| 158 | Puerto Rico | 0.26 1000 ha | 2024 | up 73.3% | falling |
| 158 | Paraguay | 0.26 1000 ha | 2024 | up 8.3% | volatile |
| 161 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.24 1000 ha | 2024 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 161 | Guam | 0.24 1000 ha | 2024 | up 41.2% | flat |
| 161 | Tonga | 0.24 1000 ha | 2024 | up 26.3% | volatile |
| 161 | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | 0.24 1000 ha | 2024 | down 35.1% | volatile |
| 165 | Belarus | 0.22 1000 ha | 2024 | down 21.4% | falling |
| 166 | Suriname | 0.19 1000 ha | 2024 | up 111.1% | volatile |
| 167 | Guadeloupe | 0.15 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 168 | Andorra | 0.13 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 168 | Ireland | 0.13 1000 ha | 2024 | down 53.6% | falling |
| 168 | Singapore | 0.13 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 168 | Solomon Islands | 0.13 1000 ha | 2024 | down 31.6% | volatile |
| 168 | Samoa | 0.13 1000 ha | 2024 | down 61.8% | falling |
| 168 | Mayotte | 0.13 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Slovakia | 0.11 1000 ha | 2024 | down 65.6% | falling |
| 175 | Liberia | 0.09 1000 ha | 2024 | down 47.1% | falling |
| 175 | Malta | 0.09 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 175 | El Salvador | 0.09 1000 ha | 2024 | down 62.5% | falling |
| 175 | Montserrat | 0.09 1000 ha | 2024 | down 82.4% | falling |
| 175 | Serbia and Montenegro | 0.09 1000 ha | 2005 | — | volatile |
| 180 | Belgium | 0.06 1000 ha | 2024 | down 45.5% | falling |
| 180 | Costa Rica | 0.06 1000 ha | 2024 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 180 | Fiji | 0.06 1000 ha | 2024 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 180 | Lithuania | 0.06 1000 ha | 2024 | down 45.5% | falling |
| 180 | Serbia | 0.06 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 180 | Brunei Darussalam | 0.06 1000 ha | 2024 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 180 | China, Macao SAR | 0.06 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 187 | Czechia | 0.04 1000 ha | 2024 | down 63.6% | falling |
| 187 | Grenada | 0.04 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 187 | Latvia | 0.04 1000 ha | 2024 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 187 | Eswatini | 0.04 1000 ha | 2024 | down 73.3% | volatile |
| 187 | Togo | 0.04 1000 ha | 2024 | down 55.6% | volatile |
| 187 | Cook Islands | 0.04 1000 ha | 2024 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 187 | United States Minor Outlying Islands | 0.04 1000 ha | 2024 | down 73.3% | falling |
| 194 | Cayman Islands | 0.02 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 194 | Gibraltar | 0.02 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 194 | Guyana | 0.02 1000 ha | 2024 | down 50.0% | volatile |
| 194 | Palau | 0.02 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 194 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0.02 1000 ha | 2024 | down 77.8% | falling |
| 194 | Tuvalu | 0.02 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 194 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.02 1000 ha | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 194 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 0.02 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 202 | American Samoa | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 202 | Barbados | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 202 | Faroe Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 202 | Hungary | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 202 | Isle of Man | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 202 | Jamaica | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 202 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | falling |
| 202 | Saint Lucia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 202 | Montenegro | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 202 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 202 | French Guiana | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 202 | Martinique | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 202 | Anguilla | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 202 | Norfolk Island | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | — | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- World 2.01 million 1000 ha
- Asia 822,356 1000 ha
- Africa 998,448 1000 ha
- Northern Africa 627,050 1000 ha
- Middle Africa 71,369 1000 ha
- Western Asia 309,632 1000 ha
- Eastern Asia 267,361 1000 ha
- Western Africa 247,816 1000 ha
- Southern Asia 169,076 1000 ha
- Americas 154,717 1000 ha
- Northern America 81,557 1000 ha
- Central Asia 76,136 1000 ha
- South America 67,514 1000 ha
- Eastern Africa 30,275 1000 ha
- United States of America 22,046 1000 ha
- Southern Africa 21,939 1000 ha
- Europe 20,258 1000 ha
- Oceania 13,877 1000 ha
- Eastern Europe 13,472 1000 ha
- Chagai 0.09 1000 ha
- Northern Europe 5,859 1000 ha
- Central America 5,566 1000 ha
- European Union (27) 887.15 1000 ha
- Western Europe 466.23 1000 ha
- Southern Europe 459.96 1000 ha
- South-Eastern Asia 152.01 1000 ha
About this data
The FAOSTAT domain on Land Cover data under the Agri-Environmental Indicators section contains land cover information organized by the land cover classes of the international standard system for Environmental and Economic Accounting Central Framework (SEEA CF). The land cover information is compiled from publicly available Global Land Cover (GLC) maps: a) MODIS land cover types based on the Land Cover Classification System, LCCS; b) The European Spatial Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative (CCI) annual land cover maps produced by the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)-Geomatics and now under the European Copernicus Program; c) The annual land cover maps which were produced under the European Copernicus Global Land Service (CGLS) (CGLS land cover, containing discrete land cover categorization), with spatial resolution 100m; and d) the WorldCover maps of the European Space Agency, produced at 10m resolution.