Meet the world’s largest landowners — who roughly own 16 percent land of the planet!

When it comes to the size of our planet Earth, we can only imagine! And now you can again imagine that there’s one family which owns (like we are actually talking about owning and being the masters) of nearly 16 percent land on Earth. Yes, you read that right! These people have ranches and private estates that can make you so small. As per widely circulated estimates, the world’s top landowners collectively control the equivalent of about one-sixth (roughly 16 %) of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, now please just imagine this data in your mind all over a truly staggering footprint!


Now let’s find out who are the owners:



King Charles III and the British Royal Family (6.6 Billion Acres)

And the landowners are none other than the British Royals! On the number one position is King Charles III and the British Royal Family who by far are the largest landholder internationally. They have around 6.6 billion acres of land which is roughly one-sixth of Earth’s land! Much of this includes sovereign territories like the United Kingdom and Commonwealth lands like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

King Charles III inherited the empire, and the land holdings too, soon after the demise of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. But it is important to know that he does not own the property directly as the properties are managed and put to work for public and royal purposes.

Religious Institutions: The Catholic Church (177 Million Acres)

Next on the list is the Catholic Church, which is led by the Pope. With an estimated 177 million acres across the globe, the Church’s holdings include churches and schools, among others globally.



Indigenous Nations — Nunavut and Inuvialuit People (87 M and 22 M Acres)

Indigenous peoples are on the third position on the list as they own vast territories through legal agreements. In Canada, the Inuit of Nunavut control about 87.5 million acres as a result of the landmark 1993 Nunavut Land Claims Agreement — one of the largest indigenous land settlements in history.

Billionaires and corporate landowners

Next on the list are billionaires and corporate landowners like Gina Rinehart and Anders Holch Povlsen, among others.

Gina Rinehart is the richest woman in Australia. She is also a mining and agriculture giant who has some 24 million acres through cattle stations and farming ventures.

Then there is Anders Holch Povlsen who is a Danish billionaire and the largest private landowner in the UK. He also owns thousands of acres in the Scottish Highlands.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy New Year wishes, messages and quotes !