Food and Agriculture Organization

The Agri-environmental Indicators—Land domain provides information on the annual evolution of the distribution of agricultural and forest areas, and their sub-components, including irrigated areas, at national, regional and global levels.

The Livestock Patterns domain of the FAOSTAT Agri-Environmental Indicators contains data on livestock numbers, shares of major livestock species and livestock densities in the agricultural area. Values are calculated using Livestock Units (LSU), which facilitate aggregating information for different livestock types. Data are available by country, with global coverage, for the period 1961–2014. This methodology applies the LSU coefficients reported in the "Guidelines for the preparation of livestock sector reviews" (FAO, 2011). From this publication, LSU coefficients are computed by livestock type and by country. The reference unit used for the calculation of livestock units (=1 LSU) is the grazing equivalent of one adult dairy cow producing 3000 kg of milk annually, fed without additional concentrated foodstuffs. FAOSTAT agri-environmental indicators on livestock patterns closely follow the structure of the indicators in EUROSTAT.

AQUASTAT is FAO's global information system on water and agriculture, developed by the Land and Water Division. The main mandate of the program is to collect, analyze and disseminate information on water resources, water uses, and agricultural water management with an emphasis on countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. This allows interested users to find comprehensive and regularly updated information at global, regional, and national levels.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from crop residues consist of direct and indirect nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from nitrogen (N) in crop residues and forage/pasture renewal left on agricultural fields by farmers. Specifically, N2O is produced by microbial processes of nitrification and de-nitrification taking place on the deposition site (direct emissions), and after volatilization/re-deposition and leaching processes (indirect emissions). The FAOSTAT emissions database is computed following Tier 1 IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National GHG Inventories, Vol. 4, Ch. 2 and 11(http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol4.html). GHG emissions are provided as direct, indirect and total by country, regions and special groups, with global coverage, relative to the period 1961-present (with annual updates) and with projections for 2030 and 2050, expressed as Gg N2O and Gg CO2eq, by crop and N content in residues.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from enteric fermentation consist of methane gas produced in digestive systems of ruminants and to a lesser extent of non-ruminants. The FAOSTAT emissions database is computed following Tier 1 IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National GHG Inventories vol. 4, ch. 10 and 11 (http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol4.html). GHG emissions are provided by country, regions and special groups, with global coverage, relative to the period 1961-present (with annual updates) and with projections for 2030 and 2050, expressed both as Gg CH4 and Gg CO2eq, by livestock species (asses, buffaloes, camels, cattle (dairy and non-dairy), goats, horses, llamas, mules, sheep, swine (breeding and market)) and by species aggregates (all animals, camels and llamas, cattle, mules and asses, sheep and goats, swine). Implied emission factor for CH4 and activity data are also provided

GHG emissions from manure applied to soils consist of direct and indirect nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from manure nitrogen (N) added to agricultural soils by farmers. Specifically, N2O is produced by microbial processes of nitrification and de-nitrification taking place on the application site (direct emissions), and after volatilization/re-deposition and leaching processes (indirect emissions). The FAOSTAT emissions database is computed following Tier 1 IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National GHG Inventories vol. 4, ch. 10 and 11 (http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol4.html). GHG emissions are provided as direct, indirect and total by country, regions and special groups, with global coverage, relative to the period 1961-present (with annual updates) and with projections for 2030 and 2050, expressed as Gg N2O and Gg CO2eq, by livestock species (asses, buffaloes, camels, cattle (dairy and non-dairy), chickens (broilers and layers), ducks, goats, horses, llamas, mules, sheep, swine (breeding and market) and turkeys) and by species aggregates (all animals, camels and llamas, cattle, chickens, mules and asses, poultry birds, sheep and goats, swine). Implied emission factor for N2O and activity data (N content in manure) are also provided.

GHG emissions from manure left on pastures consist of direct and indirect nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from manure nitrogen (N) left on pastures by grazing livestock. Specifically, N2O is produced by microbial processes of nitrification and de-nitrification taking place on the deposition site (direct emissions), and after volatilization/re-deposition and leaching processes (indirect emissions). The FAOSTAT emissions database is computed following Tier 1 IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National GHG Inventories vol. 4, ch. 10 and 11 (http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol4.html). GHG emissions are provided by country, regions and special groups, with global coverage, relative to the period 1961-present (with annual updates) and with projections for 2030 and 2050, expressed as direct, indirect and total Gg N2O and Gg CO2eq, by livestock species (asses, buffaloes, camels, cattle (dairy and non-dairy), chickens (broilers and layers), ducks, goats, horses, llamas, mules, sheep, swine (breeding, market), turkeys) and by species aggregates (all animals, camels and llamas, cattle, chickens, mules and asses, poultry birds, sheep and goats, swine). Implied emission factor for N2O and N content in manure are also provided.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from synthetic fertilizers consist of nitrous oxide gas from synthetic nitrogen additions to managed soils. Specifically, N2O is produced by microbial processes of nitrification and de-nitrification taking place on the addition site (direct emissions), and after volatilization/re-deposition and leaching processes (indirect emissions). The FAOSTAT emissions database is computed following Tier 1 IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National GHG Inventories vol. 4, ch. 11 (http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol4.html). GHG emissions are provided as direct, indirect and total by country, regions and special groups, with global coverage, relative to the period 1961-present (with annual updates) and with projections for 2030 and 2050, expressed as Gg N2O and Gg CO2eq. Implied emission factor for N2O and activity data (consumption) are also provided.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from burning of biomass consist of methane and nitrous oxide gases from biomass combustion of forest land cover classes ‘Humid and Tropical Forest’ and ‘Other Forests’, and of methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide gases from combustion of organic soils. The FAOSTAT emissions database is computed following Tier 1 IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National GHG Inventories (http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol4.html). GHG emissions are provided by country, with global coverage, relative to the period 1990-present (with annual updates), expressed as Gg CH4, Gg N2O, Gg CO2, Gg CO2eq and Gg CO2eq from both CH4 and N2O, by land cover class (humid tropical forest, other forest, organic soils) and by aggregate (burning - all categories). Implied emission factors for N2O, CH4 and CO2 as well activity data (burned area and biomass burned) are also provided.

Annual net CO2 emission/removal from Forest Land consist of net carbon stock gain/loss in the living biomass pool (aboveground and belowground biomass) associated with Forest and Net Forest Conversion. The FAOSTAT emissions database is computed following Tier 1 IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National GHG Inventories (http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/index.html) and using area and carbon stocks data compiled by countries in the FAO Global Forest Resource Assessments (http://www.fao.org/forestry/fra/en/). GHG emissions are provided by country, regions and special groups, with global coverage, relative to the period 1990-present (with annual updates), expressed as net stock change Gg C, net emissions/removals Gg CO2 and CO2eq, by forest or net forest conversion and by aggregate (forest land). Implied emission factor for CO2 as well as activity data (area, net area difference, total forest area and carbon stock in living biomass) are also given.

The FAOSTAT domain Organic soils consist of nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with the drainage of organic soils ? using histosols as proxy ? for agriculture. Data are computed geospatially, using the Tier 1 method of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National greenhouse gas Inventories (IPCC, 2006). Estimates are available by country and with global coverage, in complete time series for the period 1990?2019. The database is updated annually. The FAOSTAT domain Organic soils disseminates information by country on: activity data (in hectares of organic soils drained for agriculture); and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (in kilotonnes of N2O and CO2). Drainage and associated emissions are assessed separately for IPCC land use categories cropland and grassland, corresponding to FAO land use categories ??cropland?? and ??permanent meadows and pastures.?? Data are available for all countries and territories, for standard FAOSTAT regional aggregations, and for Annex I and non-Annex I country groups. This FAOSTAT domain also disseminates the activity data and emissions data reported by countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), under ?Cultivation of organic soils? for the N2O component and categories ?Cropland drained organic soils? and ?Grassland drained organic soils? for the CO2. Activity data are sourced from the most recently available GHG National Inventories (NGHGI) or from National Communications. Emission data are sourced directly from the UNFCCC data portal or from Biennial Update Reports (BURs). UNFCCC data are disseminated in FAOSTAT with permission, formalized via a FAO-UNFCCC Memorandum of Understanding.

As of Jun 2021, estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture and land use are disseminated under the FAOSTAT heading Climate Change/Emissions. This heading consolidates and replaces two previous distinct headings: Emissions-Agriculture and Emissions-Land Use, which no longer exist. Several other domains were consolidated to facilitate data access. https://fenixservices.fao.org/faostat/static/documents/GT/README_Changes_in_2021.pdf   The domain Emissions Totals consolidatesin one single dataset the information previously presented in two separate datasets: Agriculture total (previously: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/GT; containing data on non-CO2 emissions from agriculture); and Land Use total (previously: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/GL; containing CO2 and non-CO2 emissions from land use, land use change and forestry. This link no longer works).

The dataset includes data on gross and net production indices for various food and agriculture aggregates expressed in both totals and per capita.

Value of gross production has been compiled by multiplying gross production in physical terms by output prices at farm gate. Thus, value of production measures production in monetary terms at the farm gate level. Since intermediate uses within the agricultural sector (seed and feed) have not been subtracted from production data, this value of production aggregate refers to the notion of "gross production". Value of gross production is provided in both current and constant terms and is expressed in US dollars and Standard Local Currency (SLC). The current value of production measures value in the prices relating to the period being measured. Thus, it represents the market value of food and agricultural products at the time they were produced. Knowing this figure is helpful in understanding exactly what was happening within a given economy at that point in time. Often, this information can help explain economic trends that emerged in later periods and why they took place. Value of production in constant terms is derived using the average prices of a selected year or years, known as the base period. Constant price series can be used to show how the quantity or volume of products has changed, and are often referred to as volume measures. The ratio of the current and constant price series gives a measure of price movements. US dollar figures for value of gross production are converted from local currencies using official exchange rates as prevailing in the respective years. The SLC of a country is the local currency prevailing in the latest year. Expressing data series in one uniform currency is useful because it avoids the influence of revaluation in local currency, if any, on value of production

This database contains capture production statistics by country or territory, species item, and FAO Major Fishing Area.

This database contains statistics on production volume and value by species, country or area, fishing area and culture environment

Contains global production statistics (capture and aquaculture). This database contains the volume of aquatic species caught by country or area, by species items, by FAO major fishing areas, and year, for all commercial, industrial, recreational and subsistence purposes. The harvest from maricultural, aquaculture and other kinds of fish farming is also included

The FAOSTAT Macro Indicators database provides a selection of country-level macroeconomic indicators taken from National Accounts series and relating to total economy (TE), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AFF), Manufacturing (MAN), and Manufacturing of Food, beverage and tobacco products (FBT). All data relating to Total Economy, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, and Total Manufacturing originates from the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) which maintains and annually updates the "National Accounts Estimates of Main Aggregates" database. It consists of a complete and consistent set of time series of the main National Accounts (NA) aggregates of all UN Members States and other territories in the world for which National Accounts information is available. The UNSD database's content is based on the countries' official NA data reported to UNSD through the annual National Accounts Questionnaire, supplemented with data estimates for any years and countries with incomplete or inconsistent information. FAOSTAT Macro Indicators database reproduces a selection of time series from the UNSD National Accounts Estimates of Main Aggregates such as GDP, GFCF and sectoral VA. Additional analytical indicators such as annual per capita GDP (calculated using annual population series from the UNSD) and annual growth rates for GDP, GFCF and VA are included toghether with the investment ratio GFCF/GDP and the sectors'contribution to total economy GDP. Series on value added on Manufacture of Food, Beverages and Tobacco products originates - in order of priority - from OECD Annual National Accounts and UNIDO INDSTAT2 databases. In order to ensure that sub-industry series are consistent in levels with National Accounts based series, which is needed to support comparability across industries (agriculture vs. agro-industry and sub-industries), we proceed to a rescaling exercise of UNIDO originating series on UNSD National Accounts Estimates of Main Aggregates data series.

The FAOSTAT Population module contains time series data on population, by sex and urban/rural. The series consist of both estimates and projections for different periods as available from the original sources, namely: 1. Population data refers to the World Population Prospects: The 2015 Revision from the UN Population Division. 2. Urban/rural population data refers to the World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision from the UN Population Division. Long term series estimates and projections from 1961 to 2050. http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/

The agricultural production domain covers: Quantity produced Producer price Value at farmgate (forthcoming) Area harvested Yield per hectare  

Data on agricultural land-use are valuable for conducting studies on a various perspectives concerning agricultural production, food security and for deriving cropping intensity among others uses. Indicators derived from the land-use categories can also elucidate the environmental sustainability of countries’ agricultural practices. FAOSTAT Land-use statistics contain a wide range of information on variables that are significant for: understanding the structure of a country’s agricultural sector; making economic plans and policies for food security; deriving environmental indicators, including those related to investment in agriculture and data on gross crop area and net crop area which are useful for policy formulation and monitoring. Land-use resources sub-domain covers: Country area (including area under inland water bodies), Land area (excluding area under inland water bodies), Agricultural area, Arable land and Permanent crops, Arable land, Permanent crops, Permanent meadows and pastures, Forest area, Other land and Area equipped for irrigation. Detailed information on sub-categories: Temporary crops, Temporary meadows and pastures, Fallow land (temporary: less than 5 years), Permanent meadows and pastures cultivated and naturally grown and Organic land. Data are available from 1961 to 2009 for more than 200 countries and areas. Forest area: Global Forest Resource Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010) is the main source of forest area data in FAOSTAT. Data were provided by countries for years 1990, 2000, 2005 and 2010. Data for intermediate years were estimated for FAO using linear interpolation and tabulation. Some of the most interesting data for economists is found in this domain. The national distribution of land, among arable land, pastures and other lands, as well as the importance of irrigation are just some of the interesting data sets.