More land is being used in Germany for residential housing and transportation, the Federal Statistics Office reported on Tuesday, with an average expansion over the last four years of 51 hectares daily – or 70 football pitches.

That figure, which covers such usage from 2020 to 2023 was 2 hectares more than in the previous four year period 2019-22.

But it was lower than at the turn of the century, when residential housing and transport areas were growing by up to 128 hectares per day.

The federal government’s sustainability strategy includes an interim target of 30 hectares per day by 2030. By 2050, the aim is to achieve a circular land use economy, where no additional net land is used for settlements and transport.

Settlements and transport already account for 14.6% of Germany’s total area of 35.8 million hectares.

Vegetation areas make up the largest share at 83.1%, consisting mainly of agricultural land, which accounts for 50.3% and forested areas at 29.9%. Only 2.3% of Germany’s total area is covered by bodies of water.

-dpa