SDG 1 | Sustainable developments Goals

SDG 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Indicator 1.4.2: Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, (a) with legally recognized documentation, and (b) who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and type of tenure

1. Key features and metadata

Definition: This indicator measures the results of policies that aim to strengthen tenure security for all, including women and other vulnerable groups, and the perception of this security.

Sub-indicator	Disaggregated by
SP_LGL_LNDSTR Proportion of people with secure tenure rights to land out of total adult population, by sex (%)	Sex (Female/Both sexes)
SP_LGL_LNDDOC Proportion of people with legally recognized documentation of their rights to land out of total adult population, by sex (%)	Sex (Female/Both sexes)
SP_LGL_LNDSEC Proportion of people who perceive their rights to land as secure out of total adult population, by sex (%)	No current data disaggregation available.

Sources of information: National Statistics Offices (census and multi-topic household surveys) and, depending on availability, administrative data on land tenure reported by national land institutions (e.g. land registries and cadastres).

Related indicators: 5.a.1 ((a) Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land, by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure), 2.4.1 (Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture), 2.3.2 (Average income of small-scale food producers, by sex and indigenous status), and 2.3.1 (Volume of production per labour unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size).

2. Data availability by region, SDG Global Database, as of 02 July 2025

Figure 4.1 Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, (a) with legally recognized documentation, and (b) who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and type of tenure

3. Proposed disaggregation, links to policymaking and its impact

Proposed disaggregation	Link to policymaking	Impact
Proportion of people with secure tenure rights to land, by tenure system (%)(Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], The World Bank [WB] and United Nations Human Settlements Programme [UN-Habitat] 2019): Customary Freehold Leasehold State Community/Group right Cooperative Other Applies to: SP_LGL_LNDSTR SP_LGL_LNDDOC	The aim of this disaggregation is to provide detailed information on the different categories of recognized documentation or mechanisms provided to landowners, based on a country-specific context, and to enable a comprehensive understanding of the status of land tenure security. Access to regular and qualitative data on the nature and type of documents or arrangements in use enables the authorities and the population to compare the strengths and weaknesses of respective systems (i.e. nature of the right, whether it is individual or collective and related mechanisms to ensure its enforcement or security level). Therefore, it is imperative to monitor policies and interventions aimed at improving land tenure security and to promote responsible and equitable land governance. This disaggregation is aligned with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food Security(FAO 2022c).	Tenure systems increasingly face stress because of population growth, climate change affecting land uses, and the rising competition between land users and uses (i.e. food security, industrial and transport infrastructures, urbanization and human settlements, and environmental protection). Analyzing land tenure systems is central to strengthening tenure security for all, in particular women and other vulnerable groups. Women have a right to equal access to all avenues to end poverty, including to secure land tenure. Fully realizing that right will be key to achieving SDG 1. National authorities need to ensure that the land tenure rights framework brings satisfaction to the population; is equitable, transparent and affordable; and guarantees free access to all to land administration services and justice systems.
Proportion of people with secure tenure rights, by geographical location (%)(FAO, WB and UN-Habitat 2019): Urban area Rural area Applies to: SP_LGL_LNDSTR SP_LGL_LNDDOC	This disaggregation proposes distinguishing between rural and urban areas because the results of national policies on land tenure security and their practical consequences on the ground differ due to diverse categories of populations and the potential discrepancies observed between urban and rural areas where the nature of land rights might vary (i.e. a customary vs. a formal right). Data can be used to develop new policies and instruments for further improvements of land tenure security by reducing rural/urban gaps and to prioritize interventions for the most vulnerable populations to address their specific challenges (e.g. access to justice). This disaggregation is aligned with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food Security(FAO 2022c).	Land tenure systems set the conditions – in accordance with national or local traditions or legal frameworks – for the use of resources by stipulating who can use them; to what extent (i.e. possession, control, exclusion, enjoyment, or disposition); where and for how long; and what obligations are attached to land right acquisition. In this sense, a fair and equitable land tenure regime is an essential policy instrument aimed at poverty reduction, the respect of human rights and the promotion of equal opportunity. Particularly in rural areas, secure tenure rights are crucial for both women and men who rely on natural resources to sustain their livelihoods (UNEP and IUCN 2018). This results in land tenure laws and policies that can specifically protect the legitimate rights of poor and indigenous people to access and land tenure rights in an equitable way. This also serves as a safeguard for preventing eviction from land ownership and guarantees economic security and welfare.

Proposed disaggregation

Link to policymaking

Impact

Proportion of people with secure tenure rights to land, by tenure system (%)(Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], The World Bank [WB] and United Nations Human Settlements Programme [UN-Habitat] 2019):

Customary
Freehold
Leasehold
State
Community/Group right
Cooperative
Other

Applies to:

SP_LGL_LNDSTR
SP_LGL_LNDDOC

The aim of this disaggregation is to provide detailed information on the different categories of recognized documentation or mechanisms provided to landowners, based on a country-specific context, and to enable a comprehensive understanding of the status of land tenure security.

Access to regular and qualitative data on the nature and type of documents or arrangements in use enables the authorities and the population to compare the strengths and weaknesses of respective systems (i.e. nature of the right, whether it is individual or collective and related mechanisms to ensure its enforcement or security level). Therefore, it is imperative to monitor policies and interventions aimed at improving land tenure security and to promote responsible and equitable land governance.

This disaggregation is aligned with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food Security(FAO 2022c).

Tenure systems increasingly face stress because of population growth, climate change affecting land uses, and the rising competition between land users and uses (i.e. food security, industrial and transport infrastructures, urbanization and human settlements, and environmental protection).

Analyzing land tenure systems is central to strengthening tenure security for all, in particular women and other vulnerable groups. Women have a right to equal access to all avenues to end poverty, including to secure land tenure. Fully realizing that right will be key to achieving SDG 1.

National authorities need to ensure that the land tenure rights framework brings satisfaction to the population; is equitable, transparent and affordable; and guarantees free access to all to land administration services and justice systems.

Proportion of people with secure tenure rights, by geographical location (%)(FAO, WB and UN-Habitat 2019):

Urban area
Rural area

Applies to:

SP_LGL_LNDSTR
SP_LGL_LNDDOC

This disaggregation proposes distinguishing between rural and urban areas because the results of national policies on land tenure security and their practical consequences on the ground differ due to diverse categories of populations and the potential discrepancies observed between urban and rural areas where the nature of land rights might vary (i.e. a customary vs. a formal right). Data can be used to develop new policies and instruments for further improvements of land tenure security by reducing rural/urban gaps and to prioritize interventions for the most vulnerable populations to address their specific challenges (e.g. access to justice).

This disaggregation is aligned with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food Security(FAO 2022c).

Land tenure systems set the conditions – in accordance with national or local traditions or legal frameworks – for the use of resources by stipulating who can use them; to what extent (i.e. possession, control, exclusion, enjoyment, or disposition); where and for how long; and what obligations are attached to land right acquisition. In this sense, a fair and equitable land tenure regime is an essential policy instrument aimed at poverty reduction, the respect of human rights and the promotion of equal opportunity. Particularly in rural areas, secure tenure rights are crucial for both women and men who rely on natural resources to sustain their livelihoods (UNEP and IUCN 2018). This results in land tenure laws and policies that can specifically protect the legitimate rights of poor and indigenous people to access and land tenure rights in an equitable way. This also serves as a safeguard for preventing eviction from land ownership and guarantees economic security and welfare.