A new United Nations-backed report reveals that over 1.1 billion people globally are concerned about losing their land and homes in the coming years. The report underscores the urgent need for stronger political commitment and inclusive policies on land rights, coinciding with a growing focus on climate change, biodiversity conservation, gender equality, and rural transformation.
Over the past two decades, governments have adopted national and international frameworks addressing land policies in Africa and the responsible regulation of land, fisheries, and forests. These frameworks have led to land reform efforts in more than 70 countries.
Land Insecurity and Inequality
However, progress remains slow. According to the report, compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Land Coalition (ILC), and France’s CIRAD, only 35% of the world’s land area is officially documented with regards to ownership, use, or usage rights. This situation leaves over 1.1 billion people feeling ‘land insecure,’ fearing a high probability of losing their homes or property in the near future.
Maximo Torero Cullen, FAO Chief Economist, stated, “Land insecurity is one of the most damaging forms of inequality, costing lower productivity, weaker resilience, and poorer nutrition.” He added, “Secure land tenure enables sustainable investment and makes the difference between short-term survival and long-term food security.”
Who Owns the Land?
The report, titled “The State of Land Use and Governance,” is described as the first comprehensive global assessment designed to track how land is owned, used, and managed. It reveals that over 64% of the world’s land area is legally owned by states. This figure includes customary lands with determined usage rights but no documented ownership.
Just over a quarter of all land (approximately 25%) is known to be privately owned by individuals, corporations, or communities. The usage status of the remaining approximately 10% is unknown. Notably, about 18% of the world’s land area, representing 2.4 billion hectares, is owned by private individuals and corporations. When considering agricultural land (approximately 37% of global land area), the top 100 landowners operate nearly 90% of cultivated land.
Diverse Ownership Systems
The report also highlights regional variations in land tenure systems. For instance, in Sub-Saharan Africa, 73% of land is subject to customary tenure, yet only 1% is officially recognized, with the vast majority being undocumented and state-owned. In North America, 32% of land is privately owned, followed by 39% in Latin America, and 55% in Europe (excluding Russia).
Indigenous Peoples and Women
While Indigenous Peoples and other customary tenure holders use 5.5 billion hectares (42% of the world’s land area), only one billion hectares are documented with clear ownership rights. Data also indicates that in almost all countries, women have less access to secure land ownership or usage rights for housing or agriculture compared to men. This emphasizes the critical role of official and legal documentation in securing land rights.
Marcy Vigoda, Director of ILC, commented, “Far too many people still live in fear of losing their land and homes, with women and youth being among the most excluded. This reality undermines food security, climate action, and biodiversity protection, demonstrating that secure land rights are foundational to achieving all three.”
According to Traditions
The report delves into customary land systems, largely managed by Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, and tribal groups. These customary lands encompass forests, grasslands, wetlands, and fishing areas. Once viewed as archaic or remnants of the past, the governance of these lands is now recognized as vital for both people and the planet, given their contributions to biodiversity and climate action.
Approximately 4.2 billion hectares of customary land have been mapped worldwide, representing over 32% of the world’s landmass, excluding Antarctica.
Carbon Emission Warning
The FAO noted that these areas “hold approximately 45 gigatons of non-recoverable carbon, which cannot be put back in time to prevent climate damage, mostly occurring in forest ecosystems and representing 37 percent of the global total.” In other words, any carbon released cannot be reabsorbed quickly enough to prevent global warming. The UN agency pointed out that customary lands are increasingly under threat from human activities such as urbanization, large-scale industrial agriculture, oil and gas extraction, and mining. The FAO added, “Paradoxically, some climate solutions for renewables, biofuels, conservation, and carbon offsets are increasing these pressures on lands, especially those lacking official recognition or protection.”
