The Global Landscape of Land Tenure and Security

A Concerning Reality: Land Insecurity for Millions

Despite advancements in land governance and tenure policies, a troubling statistic emerges: over 1 billion people, or nearly one in four adults globally, live in fear of losing their land rights within the next five years. This alarming finding underscores a critical need for political commitment and inclusive land rights policies, especially in light of pressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, gender equality, and rural transformation.

Current State of Land Documentation

According to a groundbreaking UN report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Land Coalition (ILC), and CIRAD, only 35% of the world’s land rights are formally documented. In addition, around 1.1 billion individuals experience "land insecurity," primarily fearing the loss of their housing or property in the near future. This insecurity can lead to diminished productivity, weaker resilience, and poorer nutrition, highlighting how “land insecurity is one of the most damaging forms of inequality,” as noted by FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero Cullen.

Who Owns the Land?

Global Land Ownership Distribution

The Status of Land Tenure and Governance report reveals significant insights into global land ownership:

• 64% of the world’s land is legally owned by states, often including customary lands that lack formal documentation.
• Approximately 26% of land is privately owned by individuals, companies, or collectives.
• Specifically, private individuals and corporations own about 18% of the world’s land, approximately 2.4 billion hectares.
• Among cultivated agricultural land, the top 10% of landholders control nearly 90% of the area under cultivation.

Diverse Land Tenure Systems Across Regions

Land tenure systems vary widely across the globe:

• In sub-Saharan Africa, 73% of land is under customary tenure, with only 1% formally recognized.
• In North America, 32% of land is privately owned.
• Latin America sees 39% of land ownership, while Europe accounts for 55%, excluding regions like Russia where state lands dominate.

The Situation for Indigenous Peoples and Women

Indigenous Peoples and holders of customary tenure rights occupy about 5.5 billion hectares, representing 42% of the world’s land. However, only 1 billion hectares feature clear ownership documentation. Unfortunately, women frequently lag behind men in land ownership and security, revealing that secure land rights are crucial for addressing gender inequality.

Marcy Vigoda, ILC Director, emphasizes the ongoing fears faced by many people: “Too many people still live with the fear of losing their land and homes, a reality that undermines food security, climate action, and biodiversity protection.”

Customary Land Systems and Their Importance

The report sheds light on the critical role of customary land systems, which are primarily managed by Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, and tribal communities. These lands, comprising forests, grasslands, wetlands, and fisheries, are increasingly recognized for their contributions to biodiversity and climate action. Approximately 4.2 billion hectares of these lands have been mapped, which corresponds to over 32% of the Earth’s total land mass, excluding Antarctica.

The Carbon Release Threat

Customary territories are estimated to contain 45 gigatons of irrecoverable carbon, predominantly found in forest ecosystems. This immense carbon store represents 37% of the global total, indicating that any released carbon cannot be reabsorbed quickly enough to stave off detrimental climate impacts. Notably, customary lands are facing increasing threats from urban expansion, industrial agriculture, oil and gas extraction, and mining activities.

Unfortunately, even climate solutions—such as renewable energy initiatives and carbon offsets—are sometimes exacerbating these pressures on undocumented lands, as cautioned by the FAO.

Conclusion

The findings from the UN-backed report highlight an urgent need for enhanced land governance, particularly amid escalating global challenges. Without secure land rights, food security, climate strategies, and biodiversity initiatives could continue to falter, affecting marginalized communities disproportionately. Building a more equitable and secure land tenure system is not only essential for individuals but also fundamental for sustainable development on a global scale.