Top 10 Largest Landowners in the World
Written by
Gabrielle Olya
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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The people and organizations who own the most land in the world own millions — and in the case of the top landowner — billions of acres of land. Many of the top 10 largest landowners are concentrated in Australia, but there are people and groups who own large swaths of land in the U.K., Canada, the U.S. and China as well.
Here’s a look at who owns the most land in the world, as identified by Madison Trust.
1. King Charles III and the British Royal Family
- Locations: United Kingdom, Canada
- Acres owned: 6.6 billion
The British Royal family owns land equivalent to one-sixth of the surface of the earth. Locations include London, rural Britain and more than 90% of the land in Canada.
2. Catholic Church
- Locations: Worldwide
- Acres owned: 177 million
The Catholic Church owns churches, parochial schools and other properties, as well as farms and other real estate throughout Italy.
3. Inuit People of Nunavut
- Location: Canada
- Acres owned: 87.5 million
The land was legally given to the Intuit people by the Canadian government in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement of 1993.
4. Gina Rinehart
- Locations: Australia, United States
- Acres owned: 24 million
Gina Rinehart is Australia’s richest person. She is a mining magnate and a businesswoman.
5. Inuvialuit People of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region
- Location: Canada
- Acres owned: 22.5 million
This land was designated in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement of 1984.
6. Mudanjiang City Mega Farm
- Location: China
- Acres owned: 22.2 million
Home to more than 100,000 dairy cows, the Mudanjiang City Mega Farm is the largest farm in the world.
7. Australian Agricultural Company
- Location: Australia
- Acres owned: 17.3 million
The Australian Agricultural Company is Australia’s oldest agricultural company. Its largest shareholder is Joe Lewis, who is one of the richest people in the United Kingdom.
8. North Australian Pastoral Company
- Location: Australia
- Acres owned: 14.8 million
The North Australian Pastoral Company — one of the biggest cattle companies in the world — was founded in 1877.
9. Jumbuck Pastoral Company
- Location: Australia
- Acres owned: 14.2 million
The Jumbuck Pastoral Company is the largest producer of wool in Australia.
10. Handbury Group
- Location: Australia
- Acres owned: 13 million
The Handbury Group owns the Swinging Shovel property in South Australia and The Rises in Western Australia.
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