Country Desertification area Study period Source
China (Eastern Asia)
Desertified areas have been extended from 1.37 × 105 km2 to 3.85 × 105 km2 during 1950s to 2000 and decreased by 1.37 × 103 km2 from 2000 to 2010. In 2014, the land surface area 2.16 × 106 km2 was desertified in China.
n/a
(Zhang and Huisingh, 2018, Tao, 2014;Cheng et al., 2018)
Mongolia (Eastern Asia)
90% of Mongolian territory is vulnerable to desertification, and 76.8% of land has been desertified to varying degrees
n/a
(Batjargal, 1997, Wei et al., 2020)
Vietnam (ASEAN)
7.5 × 104 km2 are affected directly by desertification
n/a
(Yan, 2015, Anh et al., 2006)
Thailand (ASEAN)
Over 70% area in Huay Sai that is subjected to a high-risk level of desertification
1990, 2010
(Wijitkosum, 2016)
Kuwait (Western Asia)
Mean annual desertification land surface area rate reached at 285 km2 between middle 1970s and middle 1990s
n/a
(Al-Awadhi et al., 2003)
Turkey (Western Asia)
Around 1.09 × 105 km2 land surface area categorised as desert, and around 374.4 km2 that is threatened by desertification and dishabituations.
n/a
(Haktanir et al., 2004)
Iran (Western Asia)
Dry land covers over 85% the country’s land, and desertified and desert lands cover 3.4 × 105 km2
n/a
(Sepehr et al., 2007)
Oman (Western Asia)
Ninety five percent of land is either climate desert or directly affected by desertification.
n/a
(Al-Balooshi and Charabi, 2012)
Iraq (Western Asia)
Areas of desertification exceed 92% of the total land surface area
n/a
(Haktanir et al., 2004)
Afghanistan (South Asia)
75% land surface area of Afghanistan is vulnerable to desertification
n/a
(NEPA, 2008)
India (South Asia)
In India, total land surface area under desertification is 8.1 × 105km2
2003-2005
(Ajai et al., 2009)
Pakistan (South Asia)
6.24 × 105 km2 (over 78% land surface area in Pakistan) are susceptible to desertification
n/a
(Hussain and Irfan, 2012)
Uzbekistan (Central Asia)
Over 59% of the land surface area is decertified in Uzbekistan
n/a
(Gringof and Mersha, 2006)
Kazakhstan (Central Asia)
Over 75 % of the country’s territory is subject to degradation and desertification
n/a
(Issanova et al., 2014)
Turkmenistan (Central Asia)
66.5 % of the territory has been subject to human-induced desertification
n/a
(Gringof and Mersha, 2006)
Tajikistan (Central Asia)
97.9% of the country’s land experiences soil degradation
n/a
(Nekushoeva and Akhmadov, 2008)
Armenia (Russia and SC)
80% of the Armenia’s land surface area is subject to desertification
n/a
(KHACHATRYAN, 2013)
Russian Federation (Russia and SC)
Land surface area that has been desertified, the areas currently suffering desertification, areas are at risk of desertification - account for 1.25 × 106 km2
1996-2000
(Kust et al., 2011)