A sharp contrast in land prices across Europe reveals a growing divide in agricultural affordability, with Malta leading the way in costly hectares, while Slovakia offers a much cheaper alternative
In 2023, land prices across the European Union displayed a dramatic range, underscoring the growing regional disparities in agricultural costs.
The average price for a hectare of arable land in the EU stood at €11,791, but this figure masks vast differences.
The priciest land was found in Malta, where one hectare commanded a staggering €283,039, followed by the Netherlands (€91,154) and Luxembourg (€42,540).
In contrast, countries like Croatia, Latvia, and Slovakia offered land at far lower prices, with Croatia’s average at just €4,491 per hectare.
Rental prices followed a similar pattern. While the Netherlands topped the list at €914 per hectare annually, Slovakia’s rental costs were significantly lower, at just €67 per hectare.
Regional variations within countries are also striking, with some areas, such as Flevoland in the Netherlands, seeing rental prices soar to €1,787 per hectare, while others, like Övre Norrland in Sweden, offered rental rates as low as €24.