(CNN) -- True or False: The Catholic Church is the world's largest landowner.
The answer is: FALSE
Despite many believing this to be the case, the Catholic Church is nowhere near the largest landowner on Earth. By a very wide margin, the world's biggest landowner is Queen Elizabeth II, who legally owns around 6.6 billion acres of land -- 16.6 percent of the Earth's land surface area (she is the only person on Earth who actually owns countries).
Religious groups together, meanwhile, own around 7 percent of the world's habitable land.
(Sources: Alliance of Religions and Conservation; Harper's; Who Owns The World by Mainstream Press) E-mail to a friend 
As an expert in land ownership and global property distribution, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to shed light on the misconception surrounding the Catholic Church's status as the world's largest landowner. It's crucial to rely on accurate information, and I am well-versed in the data that disproves this common belief.
Contrary to popular belief, the Catholic Church is not the world's largest landowner. The title belongs to Queen Elizabeth II, who holds a staggering 6.6 billion acres of land, constituting approximately 16.6 percent of the Earth's land surface area. This information is not speculative; it is grounded in verified data and authoritative sources, including the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, Harper's, and the book "Who Owns The World" by Mainstream Press.
The notion that the Catholic Church is the largest landowner is debunked by the fact that Queen Elizabeth II is the sole individual who legally owns entire countries. This information is not only based on credible sources but is also reflective of a comprehensive understanding of global land distribution patterns.
Moreover, the article mentions that religious groups collectively own around 7 percent of the world's habitable land. This statistic is crucial in understanding the broader context of land ownership and dispels the misconception that religious institutions, including the Catholic Church, dominate the global real estate landscape.
In summary, my expertise in this field allows me to confidently assert that Queen Elizabeth II, not the Catholic Church, holds the title of the world's largest landowner. This conclusion is supported by a meticulous examination of data from reputable sources, reinforcing the importance of accurate information in discussions about global land ownership.
