Land use as an indicator represents the use and management of space and land as basic natural resources. Land use is the result of natural conditions, needs, socio-economic development of society and historical conditions. Thus, in the last two to three decades in Slovenia, the development of society and the country's involvement in the EU have been reflected to a much greater extent. Industrialization and changes in the field of urbanism and transport are reflected in the growing areas occupied by these sectors in Slovenia.

Indicator is divided into four sub indicators:

• Structure of agricultural land use in Slovenia in 2024 (KM10-1)
• Changes in agricultural areas by land use in the period 2022–2024 (KM10-2)
• Urbanization by land use in the period 2009–2024 (KM10-3)
• Soil quality of urbanized areas in the period 2002–2024 (KM10-4)

KM10-1 presents the distribution of land use categories for the reference year, derived from the Land Use database (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food). The reference date is 30 November 2024.

KM10-2 presents the changes in the extent of agricultural land use categories between the reference years.

KM10-3 presents the areas that have been converted from other land use types into urban areas (i.e. built-up area and related surfaces).

KM10-4 presents the shares of land quality classes that were converted into urban (i.e. built-up area and related surfaces) during the reference years.

Soil is an essential natural resource that supports the formation and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. It makes human life possible by providing a foundation for both.  In the past, soils were primarily assessed based on their role in agricultural food production and forest timber yield. However, beyond these primary functions, soils also deliver vital ecosystem services—such as water filtration and groundwater recharge, decomposition and neutralization of pollutants, carbon sequestration and CO₂ cycling, as well as the circulation of nutrients and energy. Agricultural soils are generally of higher quality than soils under other land uses. Due to their properties and versatility, they not only support food production but also of fullfill a wide range of environmental functions and ecosystem services. As of 2024, grassland (permanent and wet) predominated the structure of agricultural land (52.6 %), followed by fields and gardens (26.6 %), intensive and extensive orchards (4.9 %), vineyards (2.4 %), olive groves (0.4 %) and hop fields (0.3 %). A significant share is also occupied by land under trees and shrubs (5.1 %) and overgrown agricultural land (3.3 %). On April 1st, 2025, Slovenia had 2,130,638 inhabitants (SORS, 2025), equating to 833 m² of fields and gardens per capita. However, estimates of the required per capita area of fields and gardens to achieve food self-sufficiency and food security range from 1,000 m² to 2,500 m². According to the most recent data (World Bank, 2021), Slovenia falls well below both the global and European averages, which are approximately 1,800 m² per capita.An analysis of the MAFF land use database for 2022–2024 reveals only minor categorical differences in land use. The largest decline occurred in overgrown agricultural land (–0.3 %), which was mainly converted into the categories of trees and shrubs, permanent grassland, and uncultivated agricultural land. This reduction, especially in favour of permanent grassland may indicate a gradual and slow restoration of the agricultural landscape. Fields and gardens also decline slightly (–0.2 %), mainly being converted into permanent grassland, uncultivated agricultural land, and wet grassland. This trend suggests a gradual abandonment of arable farming and cultivation, likely due to social or other factors. Uncultivated agricultural land may include set-aside land, freshly ploughed but unplanted land, temporarily unused land due to infrastructure construction, or fenced areas for animals not yet covered with grassland. Vineyards expirienced a similar decrease (–0.2 %), most often being converted into permanent grassland, uncultivated agricultural land, and fields–a decline also influenced by social and other factors. Conversly, there was a slight increase in grassland (0.1 %), less common mixed agricultural land uses (0.1 %), and uncultivated agricultural land (0.1 %). The increase in mixed agricultural uses suggests greater land-use diversity, while the increase in grassland suggests a positive trend of gradual agricultural land restoration during this period.

Although the rate of urbanization has been increasing in Slovenia over recent decades, the country remains one of the least urbanized countries in the EU (World Bank, 2025), largly due to its highly dispersed settlement pattern. A review of changes pointing towards urbanization-related changes shows only minor shifts, mostly involving individual construction, renovations, extensions, and building upgrades. Some changes are also related to infrastructure development and the expansion of industrial zones at settlement edges.

However, there is a visible trend of increasing built-up and related areas. The share of built-up and associated land in Slovenia’s total area rose from 5.6 % in 2022 to 5.7 % in 2024. This indicates irreversible soil degradation and the loss of an important natural resource.

Figure KM10-4 shows which agricultural soil quality classes were most affected by urbanization. In Slovenia, just under 56 % of soils are of medium agricultural quality, followed by higher-quality soils (around 25 %) and poorer soils (almost 19 %). In the most recent period, the largest increase in built-up areas occurred on medium-quality soils, though noticeable changes were also observed on higher-quality soils.

The conversion of land into built-up and associated areas at the expense of other land uses is an irreversible process that results in loss of a non-renewable natural resource. The reduction of (higher-quality) soils leads to a decline in food production potential, food security, loss of habitat, and other vital ecosystem services.