Current estimate: Approximately 5,000,000,000 hectares in use. Based on an annual estimate of approximately 5,000,000,000, derived from FAO Land Use Statistics. This is a snapshot figure, not an annual flow.
Agriculture currently occupies about 50% of the world's habitable land surface. Livestock and feed crops account for the vast majority, despite producing a minority of global calories and protein.
Consumption by Region
Asia
35%
Americas
25%
Africa
20%
Europe
12%
Oceania
8%
Key Statistics
Total agricultural land
~5 billion hectares
For livestock
~77%
Of agricultural land
Calories from livestock
~18%
Despite land use
Protein from livestock
~37%
Of global protein
Grazing land
~3.5 billion hectares
Cropland
~1.5 billion hectares
Feed crop land
~33%
Of all cropland
Land per kg beef
~326 sq meters
Land per kg tofu
~2.2 sq meters
Biodiversity impact
Severe
Habitat conversion
Soil degradation
~33%
Moderately to highly
Desertification risk
~12 million hectares/year
In Depth
How much land is used for agriculture worldwide?
FAO estimates that approximately 5 billion hectares — roughly 50% of the world's habitable land surface — are currently in agricultural use. This includes grazing land and cropland. FAO/FAOSTAT data for 2024 shows the harvested area of main primary crops reached 1.5 billion hectares. In addition, approximately 3.5 billion hectares of permanent pasture and meadows are used for grazing livestock.
According to research drawing on FAO data, approximately 77% of global agricultural land is used for livestock — either as grazing pasture or as cropland to grow animal feed such as corn, soy, and barley. Despite this enormous land footprint, livestock products provide only about 18% of global calories and 37% of global protein.
What is the difference between grazing land and cropland used for animal feed?
Grazing land (pasture and meadows) is used directly by livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats — approximately 3.5 billion hectares globally, or roughly 26% of Earth's ice-free land surface. Separately, approximately one-third of all cropland is used to grow feed crops (corn, soy, wheat) that are fed to livestock rather than directly to people. Both categories count toward the 77% livestock land-use figure.
Approximately 5,000,000,000 hectares in use are currently in agricultural use globally.
Which world region has the most agricultural land?
Asia accounts for approximately 35% of global agricultural land use.
Context Beyond the Numbers
Livestock production occupies approximately 77% of global agricultural land while producing only 18% of global calories and 37% of protein.
Beef requires approximately 150 times more land per calorie than rice or potatoes, representing a significant efficiency gap in land use.
Agricultural land use is the leading driver of biodiversity loss globally, converting natural habitats into monocultures and pastures.
Approximately 33% of Earth's agricultural soils are moderately to highly degraded, reducing their capacity for future food production.
Pastureland alone occupies approximately 26% of Earth's ice-free land surface, an area roughly equivalent to the combined size of the Americas.
Studies suggest that shifting to predominantly plant-based diets could free approximately 3 billion hectares for ecological restoration and carbon sequestration.