Annual afforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Annual afforestation was 610 hectares per year in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Annual afforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1990–2020
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares per year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual afforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo is 610 hectares per year, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 67.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual afforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 1,850 hectares per year in 2010 and was at its lowest, 430 hectares per year, in 1990.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 48th of 106 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Annual afforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 430 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 600 hectares per year | +39.5% |
| 2010 | 1,850 hectares per year | +208.3% |
| 2015 | 1,080 hectares per year | -41.6% |
| 2020 | 610 hectares per year | -43.5% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 610 hectares per year is above the median for low income countries, which is 610 hectares per year, 1.0× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 610 hectares per year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 805 hectares per year, 76% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 430 hectares per year | 430 hectares per year | 430 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 600 hectares per year | 600 hectares per year | 600 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 1,465 hectares per year | 1,080 hectares per year | 1,850 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 610 hectares per year | 610 hectares per year | 610 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More environment data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 5.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0.338 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual afforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Annual afforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo was 610 hectares per year in 2020, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual afforestation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 1,850 hectares per year in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual afforestation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 430 hectares per year in 1990.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for annual afforestation?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 48th out of 106 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual afforestation rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual afforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Afforestation is the establishment of forest through planting and/or deliberate seeding on land that, until then, was not classified as forest.