What is area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka?

Area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka was 440,000 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 area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in Sri Lanka?

The highest recorded value was 440,000 hectares in 1993.

What is the lowest area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in Sri Lanka?

The lowest recorded value was 185,000 hectares in 1961.

How does Sri Lanka rank for area of permanent meadows and pastures?

Sri Lanka ranks 131st out of 209 countries with data for 2023.

Is area of permanent meadows and pastures rising or falling in Sri Lanka?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Area of permanent meadows and pastures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka

Name: Area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka
Creator: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Sri Lanka: Area of permanent meadows and pastures was 440,000 hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)

440,000 hectares

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

131st

of 209 countries

All-time high

440,000 hectares

in 1993

All-time low

185,000 hectares

in 1961

Years of data

1961–2023

Area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka, 1961–2023

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

In 2023, area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka stood at 440,000 hectares. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka peaked at 440,000 hectares in 1993 and was at its lowest, 185,000 hectares, in 1961.

Sri Lanka ranks 131st of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.

Area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for Area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka, 1961 to 2023.
Year	hectares	Change
1961	185,000 hectares	—
1962	185,000 hectares	+0.0%
1963	185,000 hectares	+0.0%
1964	230,000 hectares	+24.3%
1965	280,000 hectares	+21.7%
1966	330,000 hectares	+17.9%
1967	380,000 hectares	+15.2%
1968	439,000 hectares	+15.5%
1969	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1970	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1971	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1972	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1973	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1974	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1975	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1976	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1977	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1978	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1979	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1980	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1981	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1982	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1983	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1984	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1985	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1986	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1987	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1988	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1989	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1990	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1991	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1992	439,000 hectares	+0.0%
1993	440,000 hectares	+0.2%
1994	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
1995	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
1996	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
1997	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
1998	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
1999	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2000	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2001	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2002	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2003	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2004	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2005	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2006	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2007	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2008	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2009	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2010	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2011	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2012	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2013	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2014	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2015	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2016	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2017	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2018	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2019	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2020	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2021	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2022	440,000 hectares	+0.0%
2023	440,000 hectares	+0.0%

Sri Lanka compared with similar countries

Sri Lanka's 440,000 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.16 million hectares, 38% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Sri Lanka's 440,000 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 520,000 hectares, 85% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	294,778 hectares	185,000 hectares	439,000 hectares	9
1970s	439,000 hectares	439,000 hectares	439,000 hectares	10
1980s	439,000 hectares	439,000 hectares	439,000 hectares	10
1990s	439,700 hectares	439,000 hectares	440,000 hectares	10
2000s	440,000 hectares	440,000 hectares	440,000 hectares	10
2010s	440,000 hectares	440,000 hectares	440,000 hectares	10
2020s	440,000 hectares	440,000 hectares	440,000 hectares	4

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

128 Myanmar 480,000 hectares compare
129 Belgium 466,940 hectares compare
130 Sweden 453,000 hectares compare
132 Bhutan 413,000 hectares compare
133 Lebanon 400,000 hectares compare
134 Rwanda 386,060 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

More reference data data for Sri Lanka

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka?: Area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka was 440,000 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 area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in Sri Lanka?: The highest recorded value was 440,000 hectares in 1993.
What is the lowest area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in Sri Lanka?: The lowest recorded value was 185,000 hectares in 1961.
How does Sri Lanka rank for area of permanent meadows and pastures?: Sri Lanka ranks 131st out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
Is area of permanent meadows and pastures rising or falling in Sri Lanka?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Area of permanent meadows and pastures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Area of permanent meadows and pastures in Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/area-of-permanent-meadows-and-pastures/sri-lanka/

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About this data

Indicator: Area of permanent meadows and pastures
Unit: hectares
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 210 places, 12,094 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

This is the land used for livestock grazing. The total land use for livestock farming is higher as it additionally requires cropland used to grow animal feed.