These country profiles help land rights and governance professionals explore land tenure, property rights, and natural resource governance around the world. Select a country below to find research, key issues, and related resources. Use the profiles as a starting point for understanding the national context before exploring specific projects, policies, or publications.
What the country profiles cover
The profiles examine how people access, use, and manage land and resources. Topics include tenure security, land administration, customary and community rights, and the relationship between formal laws and local practice. Coverage varies by country and by the scope of the original research.
Particular attention is given to women and other groups whose land rights are often insecure. These perspectives can help practitioners identify questions about participation, recognition of rights, and equitable access to land. Where available, country pages also connect readers with relevant activities, programs, and supporting documents.
Using the research responsibly
Check the date and sources of each profile before using it in your work. Many country profiles preserve historical research, so they may describe an earlier legal framework or development program. A profile is a foundation for further research; it does not replace checking current legislation, recent evidence, or the experiences of people living in the country.
When comparing countries, consider the research period and the different institutions, tenure systems, and resource pressures described. For project design or policy analysis, combine the country overview with current local expertise and more detailed studies. Keep the original publication context in view when citing findings or assessing changes over time.
Explore related land governance resources
For an introduction to the core concepts, read What is Land Tenure? Then explore research and publications for deeper evidence, land projects for implementation experience, or tools and resources for practical guidance. Together, these collections support informed discussion of land rights and governance across different country settings.
Explore land tenure themes across countries
- Customary ownership and formal rights: compare Papua New Guinea (2021) and Ghana (2013), with the customary-tenure guide for background.
- Pastureland and local institutions: explore the Mongolia profile (2010).
- Historical property regimes and registration: read the Timor-Leste profile (2011).
- Rural and urban land access: explore the Jamaica profile (2010), including its discussion of women farmers’ rights.
- Land governance and forest management: read the Nigeria profile (2010).
The dates identify the preserved research context. The alphabetical directory below remains the route to the full country collection.