Annual change in forest area in Iraq
Iraq: Annual change in forest area was -6,604 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual change in forest area in Iraq, 1991–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in forest area in Iraq is -6,604 hectares, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in forest area in Iraq peaked at 1,412 hectares in 1991 and was at its lowest, -9,138 hectares, in 2011.
Iraq ranks 187th of 235 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in forest area in Iraq, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1,412 hectares | — |
| 1992 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1,412 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2001 | -1,332 hectares | -194.3% |
| 2002 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -1,332 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -9,138 hectares | +586.0% |
| 2012 | -9,138 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -9,138 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -9,138 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -9,138 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -6,608 hectares | -27.7% |
| 2017 | -6,608 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -6,608 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -6,608 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -6,608 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -6,604 hectares | -0.1% |
| 2022 | -6,604 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2023 | -6,604 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -6,604 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -6,604 hectares | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,412 hectares | 1,412 hectares | 1,412 hectares | 9 |
| 2000s | -1,058 hectares | -1,332 hectares | 1,412 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | -7,345 hectares | -9,138 hectares | -1,332 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | -6,605 hectares | -6,608 hectares | -6,604 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More environment data for Iraq
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % 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 6.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in forest area in Iraq?
- Annual change in forest area in Iraq was -6,604 hectares in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in forest area recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 1,412 hectares in 1991.
- What is the lowest annual change in forest area recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was -9,138 hectares in 2011.
- How does Iraq rank for annual change in forest area?
- Iraq ranks 187th out of 235 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in forest area rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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 change in forest area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net change in forest area measures forest expansion (the sum of afforestation and natural expansion) minus deforestation.