Countries With the Fastest Decline in Arable land share (5-Year Change)
Change in Arable land share over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Bosnia and Herzegovina fell the most: by 11.8 pts, from 19.8% of land area to 8.03% of land area in the five years to 2024. Malta is second (−6.19 pts), followed by American Samoa (−6.01 pts). 77 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −0.177 pts.
- #1
- Bosnia and Herzegovina · −11.8 pts
- Median
- −0.177 pts
- Coverage
- 77 countries
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 19.8 | 8.03 | −11.8 pts |
| 2 | Malta | 28.3 | 22.2 | −6.19 pts |
| 3 | American Samoa | 14.5 | 8.44 | −6.01 pts |
| 4 | Israel | 17.5 | 11.9 | −5.57 pts |
| 5 | Burundi | 47.4 | 43.7 | −3.69 pts |
| 6 | Lebanon | 13.5 | 10.8 | −2.7 pts |
| 7 | Romania | 39 | 36.4 | −2.54 pts |
| 8 | Greece | 16.5 | 14.2 | −2.28 pts |
| 9 | Hungary | 47.3 | 45.2 | −2.07 pts |
| 10 | France | 33.3 | 31.3 | −1.97 pts |
| 11 | Thailand | 32.5 | 30.8 | −1.76 pts |
| 12 | Portugal | 10.9 | 9.33 | −1.56 pts |
| 13 | Isle of Man | 42 | 40.5 | −1.53 pts |
| 14 | Syrian Arab Republic | 25.4 | 24 | −1.48 pts |
| 15 | Andorra | 1.68 | 0.308 | −1.37 pts |
| 16 | West Bank and Gaza | 8.08 | 6.95 | −1.13 pts |
| 17 | Comoros | 30.7 | 29.6 | −1.08 pts |
| 18 | Denmark | 59.9 | 58.9 | −1.05 pts |
| 19 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 2.86 | 1.9 | −0.952 pts |
| 20 | Belarus | 28.1 | 27.2 | −0.951 pts |
| 21 | Slovak Republic | 28.1 | 27.1 | −0.936 pts |
| 22 | Spain | 23.6 | 22.8 | −0.862 pts |
| 23 | Albania | 22.3 | 21.5 | −0.743 pts |
| 24 | Nepal | 13.3 | 12.6 | −0.683 pts |
| 25 | Korea, Rep. | 14 | 13.3 | −0.635 pts |
| 26 | Panama | 7.35 | 6.71 | −0.632 pts |
| 27 | India | 52.3 | 51.7 | −0.594 pts |
| 28 | Serbia | 29.5 | 29 | −0.48 pts |
| 29 | North Macedonia | 16.6 | 16.2 | −0.436 pts |
| 30 | United States | 17 | 16.6 | −0.387 pts |
| 31 | Virgin Islands (US) | 2.49 | 2.16 | −0.331 pts |
| 32 | Lao PDR | 5.61 | 5.3 | −0.31 pts |
| 33 | Japan | 11.3 | 11 | −0.277 pts |
| 34 | Luxembourg | 24.1 | 23.8 | −0.262 pts |
| 35 | Netherlands | 30 | 29.8 | −0.241 pts |
| 36 | Ecuador | 3.98 | 3.74 | −0.24 pts |
| 37 | Georgia | 4.19 | 3.95 | −0.237 pts |
| 38 | Costa Rica | 3.48 | 3.31 | −0.179 pts |
| 39 | Viet Nam | 21.6 | 21.5 | −0.177 pts |
| 40 | Germany | 33.5 | 33.4 | −0.17 pts |
| 41 | Jordan | 2.42 | 2.26 | −0.155 pts |
| 42 | Ireland | 6.43 | 6.29 | −0.145 pts |
| 43 | Indonesia | 9.48 | 9.35 | −0.135 pts |
| 44 | Malaysia | 2.72 | 2.59 | −0.132 pts |
| 45 | Fiji | 4.3 | 4.19 | −0.111 pts |
| 46 | Grenada | 8.82 | 8.72 | −0.103 pts |
| 47 | Slovenia | 8.91 | 8.81 | −0.096 pts |
| 48 | New Zealand | 2.07 | 1.98 | −0.091 pts |
| 49 | British Virgin Islands | 13.3 | 13.2 | −0.088 pts |
| 50 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 19.2 | 19.2 | −0.074 pts |
| 51 | Bahrain | 2.69 | 2.63 | −0.067 pts |
| 52 | Austria | 16.1 | 16 | −0.057 pts |
| 53 | Sweden | 6.24 | 6.18 | −0.054 pts |
| 54 | China | 11.6 | 11.6 | −0.051 pts |
| 55 | Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 3.47 | 3.42 | −0.048 pts |
| 56 | Guyana | 0.493 | 0.449 | −0.044 pts |
| 57 | Suriname | 0.386 | 0.343 | −0.044 pts |
| 58 | Barbados | 16.3 | 16.2 | −0.038 pts |
| 59 | Azerbaijan | 25.4 | 25.3 | −0.033 pts |
| 60 | Yemen, Rep. | 2.19 | 2.16 | −0.033 pts |
| 61 | Zimbabwe | 10.4 | 10.4 | −0.031 pts |
| 62 | Finland | 7.39 | 7.37 | −0.018 pts |
| 63 | Marshall Islands | 2.78 | 2.76 | −0.015 pts |
| 64 | Switzerland | 10.1 | 10.1 | −0.011 pts |
| 65 | Singapore | 0.783 | 0.773 | −0.01 pts |
| 66 | French Polynesia | 0.72 | 0.71 | −0.01 pts |
| 67 | Dominica | 7.33 | 7.32 | −0.0097 pts |
| 68 | Cyprus | 10.4 | 10.4 | −0.009 pts |
| 69 | Brazil | 6.67 | 6.66 | −0.0086 pts |
| 70 | Antigua and Barbuda | 9.09 | 9.08 | −0.0061 pts |
| 71 | Qatar | 1.83 | 1.82 | −0.0061 pts |
| 72 | South Sudan | 3.8 | 3.79 | −0.0056 pts |
| 73 | New Caledonia | 0.327 | 0.321 | −0.0052 pts |
| 74 | Guam | 1.85 | 1.85 | −0.0035 pts |
| 75 | Kiribati | 2.47 | 2.47 | −0.003 pts |
| 76 | Namibia | 0.972 | 0.97 | −0.0018 pts |
| 77 | Equatorial Guinea | 1.89 | 1.89 | −0.0001 pts |
About the top 10
#1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks #1 on this list with −11.8 pts.
- Capital
- Sarajevo
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 3.14 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$32.6 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$10,382 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 52.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in time to start a business (days) · #7 in death rate · #11 in smoking prevalence.
#2 Malta
Malta ranks #2 on this list with −6.19 pts.
- Capital
- Valletta
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 579,700 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$27.77 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$47,907 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 95.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #4 in access to sanitation · #6 in trade share of gdp · #6 in irrigated land share.
#3 American Samoa
American Samoa ranks #3 on this list with −6.01 pts.
- Capital
- Pago Pago
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 46,029 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$871 million (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$18,017 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 73 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #8 in forest area share · #9 in voice and accountability score · #14 in homicide rate.
#4 Israel
Israel ranks #4 on this list with −5.57 pts.
- Capital
- Jerusalem
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 10.12 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$610.78 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$60,337 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 91.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Jerusalem.
Also ranks #1 in r&d expenditure share of gdp · #1 in firms using banks to finance investment share · #7 in irrigated land share.
#5 Burundi
Burundi ranks #5 on this list with −3.69 pts.
- Capital
- Gitega
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 14.39 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.36 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$233.8 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #3 in forest rents share of gdp · #3 in real effective exchange rate index.
#6 Lebanon
Lebanon ranks #6 on this list with −2.7 pts.
- Capital
- Beirut
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$25.97 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$4,473 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 91% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Beirut.
Also ranks #1 in official exchange rate · #2 in smoking prevalence · #7 in refugee population by asylum.
#7 Romania
Romania ranks #7 on this list with −2.54 pts.
- Capital
- Bucharest
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 19.02 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$428.68 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$22,538 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 52.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bucharest.
Also ranks #1 in alcohol consumption per capita · #8 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #13 in death rate.
#8 Greece
Greece ranks #8 on this list with −2.28 pts.
- Capital
- Athens
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 10.41 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$280.64 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$26,948 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 79.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in school enrolment (tertiary) · #4 in physicians per 1,000 · #6 in population ages 65+ share.
#9 Hungary
Hungary ranks #9 on this list with −2.07 pts.
- Capital
- Budapest
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 9.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$246.49 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$25,907 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 70.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Budapest.
Also ranks #3 in access to clean water · #5 in immunisation (dpt) rate · #6 in immunisation (measles) rate.
#10 France
France ranks #10 on this list with −1.97 pts.
- Capital
- Paris
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 68.72 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.37 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$48,986 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 78.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Paris, Metropolis of Lyon, Bordeaux Métropole.
Also ranks #1 in tourism arrivals · #1 in account ownership (female) share · #3 in remittances received.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Arable land share over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator AG.LND.ARBL.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Arable land (% of land area): FAO electronic files and website, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: FAO electronic files and website, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.