National-level data sources
National level data are generated from research (e.g., legal reviews, literature reviews, interviews), expert knowledge, and spatial data analysis. Lists of primary sources and methods are available below, or in the attribute table accessible by clicking on the geographic features in the interactive map.
National-level data on LandMark are not derived directly from individual community maps, but rather estimated from alternative sources. These estimates strive to encompass all anticipated Indigenous and Community lands within each country, even if specific land maps haven't been documented. Consequently, these estimates are generally higher than the community-level data displayed on LandMark.
Percent of Country Held by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Sources
Citation
LandMark. 2025. Percent of Country Held by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Data file from LandMark: The Global Platform of Indigenous and Community Lands. Available at: www.landmarkmap.org.
Indigenous Population per Country
This data layer shows the estimated indigenous population per country. The data are divided into two categories for visualization on the global map: indigenous population as a percentage of the country total population, and indigenous population counts.
Citation
Dubertret, F. (2024). Recension des peuples autochtones du monde par pays. Data file from LandMark: The Global Platform of Indigenous and Community Lands based on Annex 1 of "Rendre explicite une présence invisible: Vers un atlas mondial des territoires autochtones". PhD thesis. IHEAL-CREDA, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle. 446 p.
Indicators of Tenure Security in National Law
A dataset characterized by a series of ten indicator questions that point to the security of land tenure for Indigenous Peoples or local communities as established in national laws. Data were first produced in 2015; data were updated for African countries in 2024 & 2025.
Sources
Citation
L. Alden Wily, N. Tagliarino, Harvard Law and International Development Society (LIDS), A. Vidal, C. Salcedo-La Vina, S. Ibrahim, and B. Almeida. 2015, with update for Africa in 2025. Indicators of Indigenous Peoples' and Local Communities' Tenure Security in National Law. Data file from LandMark: The Global Platform of Indigenous and Community Lands. Available at: www.landmarkmap.org.
Closing the map gap
LandMark is continuously seeking new data to fill in the gaps in data coverage. Help us close the map gap by contributing data to LandMark.
National-Level Data Methods
The National level data displays research and literature-based estimates about the lands held and used by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for an entire country. These data are particularly useful in countries where there is absent or incomplete community level data.
Includes the following LandMark data layers:
- Percent of country held by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
- Indigenous population per country
- Indicators of Indigenous Peoples' and Local Communities' Tenure Security in National Law