How large is the artificialisation and sealed area in Europe?

Curious about the hotspots of soil sealing in Europe? Check out the indicator "soil sealing" on the EUSO Dashboard.

European data show clear spatial patterns. While some inner cities are becoming more compact, the highest land take occurs in commuting zones around cities. Peri-urban areas show increasing soil sealing as new housing, roads, and services require more land.

Between recent reporting periods (2012–2018 and 2018–2021), artificial areas in Europe increased significantly, often at the expense of arable lands, grasslands, forests, and pastures.