Foreign Landholders USA

🌍 Foreign Landholders USA Top 10 (2025)

Foreign Landholders USA, has been a topic of increasing interest and scrutiny. As of 2025, foreign entities own approximately 3.1% of all privately held land in the United States, equating to around 40 million acres. The following are the top 10 foreign landholders:

1. 🇨🇦 Canada

• Ownership: Approximately 15.3 million acres

• Land Use: Primarily forestland

• Overview: Canadian investors hold the largest share of foreign-owned U.S. land, accounting for about 33% of all foreign-held acreage. Their holdings are concentrated in timber-rich states like Maine, Alabama, and Louisiana.National Agricultural Law CenterFarm Bureau

2. 🇳🇱 Netherlands

• Ownership: Approximately 4.9 million acres

• Land Use: Diverse agricultural purposes

• Overview: Dutch investors are significant stakeholders in U.S. farmland, with holdings spread across various states.Their investments are often channeled through institutional funds and agricultural investment firms. Chicago Council on Global Affairs

3. 🇮🇹 Italy

• Ownership: Approximately 2.7 million acres

• Land Use: Agriculture and forestry

• Overview: Italian entities have a notable presence in U.S. agricultural land ownership, particularly in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest regions.

4. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

• Ownership: Approximately 2.5 million acres

• Land Use: Agriculture and forestry

• Overview: British investors maintain substantial landholdings in the U.S., with interests in both farmland and timberland.

5. 🇩🇪 Germany

• Ownership: Approximately 2.3 million acres

• Land Use: Agriculture and forestry

• Overview: German investors are significant players in the U.S. land market, with holdings primarily in agricultural and forested lands.

6. 🇵🇹 Portugal

• Ownership: Approximately 1.5 million acres

• Land Use: Agriculture

• Overview: Portuguese investors have increased their presence in U.S. farmland, particularly in states like California and Oregon. Statista+21Farm Bureau+21LandApp+21

7. 🇫🇷 France

• Ownership: Approximately 1.3 million acres

• Land Use: Agriculture

• Overview: French entities hold significant landholdings in the U.S., focusing on agricultural production in various states. AP News

8. 🇩🇰 Denmark

• Ownership: Approximately 856,474 acres

• Land Use: Forestry

• Overview: Danish investors are notable for their investments in U.S. forestland, particularly in the South.

9. 🇱🇺 Luxembourg

• Ownership: Approximately 802,249 acres

• Land Use: Agriculture

• Overview: Luxembourg-based investors have a growing presence in U.S. farmland, with holdings spread across various states.

10. 🇮🇪 Ireland

• Ownership: Approximately 759,732 acres

• Land Use: Agriculture

• Overview: Irish investors maintain a significant stake in U.S. agricultural land, focusing on crop production and livestock farming.

Our Take: Foreign Landholders USA

Foreign ownership of U.S. land is a complex and multifaceted issue, encompassing a range of investors from allied nations to those from countries with less favorable diplomatic relations. While the majority of foreign-held land is used for agricultural and forestry purposes, the implications of such ownership extend beyond land use, touching on national security, economic interests, and environmental concerns. As the landscape of foreign investment continues to evolve, ongoing dialogue and policy considerations will be essential in balancing the benefits and challenges associated with foreign land ownership in the United States.

Does the U.S. Own Land in Canada? NO
The United States government does not own any land in Canada. While Americans can buy property there as private citizens or businesses, official U.S. ownership is limited to diplomatic sites like embassies and consulates. Even these remain under Canadian law—so the U.S. does not actually own any Canadian territory.

Is This Another way We Subsidize Canada? YOU DECIDE