Blockchain Technology Adoption in Land Administration in Developing Countries: A Synthesis and Review
Kenneth Koome Kithinji, Joshua Rumo Ndiege, Paula M. W. Musuva · 2025
Land transactions are vital to economic success, yet many developing countries still rely on manual or outdated land registries prone to forgery, fraud, errors and inefficiencies. The application of blockchain technology in land administration is gaining traction due to its key features such as transparency, immutability, decentralisation, and verifiability. This systematic literature review explores applications and challenges associated with blockchain technology in land administration in developing countries. The study reviewed academic literature published between 2013 and 2024 using the PRISMA methodology. The review identified 20 relevant articles from nine databases. The findings reveal a limited number of blockchain deployments exist in developing countries, with most of them still in the prototype stage. Key challenges identified include the lack of regulatory frameworks, technical complexity, security concerns, and shortage of skilled expertise. These findings provide valuable insights to various stakeholders interested in enhancing land administration by deploying blockchain technology in developing countries.