What is the highest area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in United States?

The highest recorded value was 266.81 million hectares in 2017.

What is the lowest area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in United States?

The lowest recorded value was 234.79 million hectares in 1997.

How does United States rank for area of permanent meadows and pastures?

United States ranks 4th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.

Is area of permanent meadows and pastures rising or falling in United States?

Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this United States 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 United States

Name: Area of permanent meadows and pastures in United States
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)

United States: Area of permanent meadows and pastures was 266.81 million hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)

266.81 million hectares

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

4th

of 209 countries

All-time high

266.81 million hectares

in 2017

All-time low

234.79 million hectares

in 1997

Years of data

1961–2023

Area of permanent meadows and pastures in United States, 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 United States stood at 266.81 million hectares. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, area of permanent meadows and pastures in United States peaked at 266.81 million hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 234.79 million hectares, in 1997.

That places United States 4th out of 209 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Area of permanent meadows and pastures in United States, year by year

Annual values for Area of permanent meadows and pastures in United States, 1961 to 2023.
Year	hectares	Change
1961	265.00 million hectares	—
1962	265.00 million hectares	+0.0%
1963	260.00 million hectares	-1.9%
1964	259.17 million hectares	-0.3%
1965	257.45 million hectares	-0.7%
1966	255.73 million hectares	-0.7%
1967	254.00 million hectares	-0.7%
1968	252.28 million hectares	-0.7%
1969	250.56 million hectares	-0.7%
1970	248.83 million hectares	-0.7%
1971	247.11 million hectares	-0.7%
1972	245.39 million hectares	-0.7%
1973	243.66 million hectares	-0.7%
1974	241.94 million hectares	-0.7%
1975	241.94 million hectares	+0.0%
1976	241.94 million hectares	+0.0%
1977	242.04 million hectares	+0.0%
1978	237.54 million hectares	-1.9%
1979	237.54 million hectares	+0.0%
1980	237.54 million hectares	+0.0%
1981	237.54 million hectares	+0.0%
1982	241.60 million hectares	+1.7%
1983	241.60 million hectares	+0.0%
1984	241.60 million hectares	+0.0%
1985	241.60 million hectares	+0.0%
1986	241.60 million hectares	+0.0%
1987	239.17 million hectares	-1.0%
1988	239.17 million hectares	+0.0%
1989	239.17 million hectares	+0.0%
1990	239.17 million hectares	+0.0%
1991	239.17 million hectares	+0.0%
1992	239.25 million hectares	+0.0%
1993	238.00 million hectares	-0.5%
1994	237.00 million hectares	-0.4%
1995	236.00 million hectares	-0.4%
1996	235.00 million hectares	-0.4%
1997	234.79 million hectares	-0.1%
1998	235.31 million hectares	+0.2%
1999	235.82 million hectares	+0.2%
2000	236.33 million hectares	+0.2%
2001	236.84 million hectares	+0.2%
2002	237.36 million hectares	+0.2%
2003	239.56 million hectares	+0.9%
2004	241.76 million hectares	+0.9%
2005	243.97 million hectares	+0.9%
2006	246.17 million hectares	+0.9%
2007	248.38 million hectares	+0.9%
2008	251.75 million hectares	+1.4%
2009	255.13 million hectares	+1.3%
2010	258.51 million hectares	+1.3%
2011	261.89 million hectares	+1.3%
2012	265.27 million hectares	+1.3%
2013	265.57 million hectares	+0.1%
2014	265.88 million hectares	+0.1%
2015	266.19 million hectares	+0.1%
2016	266.50 million hectares	+0.1%
2017	266.81 million hectares	+0.1%
2018	266.81 million hectares	+0.0%
2019	266.81 million hectares	+0.0%
2020	266.81 million hectares	+0.0%
2021	266.81 million hectares	+0.0%
2022	266.81 million hectares	+0.0%
2023	266.81 million hectares	+0.0%

United States compared with similar countries

United States's 266.81 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 378,820 hectares, 704.3× the median. (71 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	257.69 million hectares	250.56 million hectares	265.00 million hectares	9
1970s	242.79 million hectares	237.54 million hectares	248.83 million hectares	10
1980s	240.06 million hectares	237.54 million hectares	241.60 million hectares	10
1990s	236.95 million hectares	234.79 million hectares	239.25 million hectares	10
2000s	243.73 million hectares	236.33 million hectares	255.13 million hectares	10
2010s	265.02 million hectares	258.51 million hectares	266.81 million hectares	10
2020s	266.81 million hectares	266.81 million hectares	266.81 million hectares	4

Countries ranked near United States

1 China 392.83 million hectares compare
2 Australia 331.87 million hectares compare
3 USSR 326.50 million hectares compare
5 Kazakhstan 184.46 million hectares compare
6 Brazil 173.36 million hectares compare
7 Saudi Arabia 170.00 million hectares compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

More reference data data for United States

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is area of permanent meadows and pastures in United States?: Area of permanent meadows and pastures in United States was 266.81 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 area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in United States?: The highest recorded value was 266.81 million hectares in 2017.
What is the lowest area of permanent meadows and pastures recorded in United States?: The lowest recorded value was 234.79 million hectares in 1997.
How does United States rank for area of permanent meadows and pastures?: United States ranks 4th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
Is area of permanent meadows and pastures rising or falling in United States?: Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States 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 United States. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 28 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/area-of-permanent-meadows-and-pastures/united-states/

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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.