Bangladesh leads the world in share of farmland under irrigation
Bangladesh has the world's highest reported share of agricultural land under irrigation, with nearly nine in every 10 hectares receiving artificially supplied water, according to data published by Our World in Data.
Main points
- Bangladesh irrigates nearly 90% of its agricultural land
- Pakistan and India also rely heavily on irrigation
- Irrigation levels reflect climate, crops and farming systems
Bangladesh has the world's highest reported share of agricultural land under irrigation, with nearly nine in every 10 hectares receiving artificially supplied water, according to data published by Our World in Data.
The figures, originally compiled by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and distributed through the World Bank, show 89.04% of Bangladesh's agricultural land is irrigated. Pakistan follows at 54.17%, with India at 44.41%.
The rest of the infographic's top 10 includes Malta at 33.87%, Nepal at 32.29%, Azerbaijan at 30.63%, the United Arab Emirates at 23.99%, Greece at 22.26%, the Netherlands at 21.58% and Ecuador at 21.12%.
Why irrigation matters
Irrigation means deliberately supplying agricultural land with water rather than relying entirely on rainfall. This can include diverting water from rivers and reservoirs, pumping groundwater, controlled flooding and sprinkler or drip systems.
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It is particularly important in places where rainfall is seasonal, unreliable or too low to support intensive farming. Our World in Data notes that irrigation has played a major role in increasing agricultural output and making food production more stable.
South Asia stands out. Bangladesh, Pakistan and India all appear near the top, reflecting the importance of irrigation to crop production across the region. Bangladesh also has an unusually large share of its territory devoted to farming, with agricultural land accounting for about 72% of its land area in 2023.
But a high irrigation share does not necessarily mean a country uses more water overall. A smaller country can irrigate a large percentage of its farmland while using much less water than a larger agricultural producer.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
