Annual deforestation in Brazil
Brazil: Annual deforestation was 3.26 million hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
3.26 million hectares per year
World rank
1st
of 112 countries
All-time high
6.43 million hectares per year
in 1990
All-time low
1.92 million hectares per year
in 2010
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in Brazil, 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 deforestation in Brazil is 3.26 million hectares per year, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 70.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Brazil peaked at 6.43 million hectares per year in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.92 million hectares per year, in 2010.
That places Brazil 1st out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Annual deforestation in Brazil, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.43 million hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 5.02 million hectares per year | -21.9% |
| 2010 | 1.92 million hectares per year | -61.9% |
| 2015 | 2.63 million hectares per year | +37.2% |
| 2020 | 3.26 million hectares per year | +23.9% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 3.26 million hectares per year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8,515 hectares per year, 382.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 3.26 million hectares per year is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 22,700 hectares per year, 143.4× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.43 million hectares per year | 6.43 million hectares per year | 6.43 million hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 5.02 million hectares per year | 5.02 million hectares per year | 5.02 million hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 2.27 million hectares per year | 1.92 million hectares per year | 2.63 million hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.26 million hectares per year | 3.26 million hectares per year | 3.26 million hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More environment data for Brazil
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -6.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -8.24 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.221 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.36 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.155 % 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 -2.73 % 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 deforestation in Brazil?
- Annual deforestation in Brazil was 3.26 million 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 deforestation recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 6.43 million hectares per year in 1990.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.92 million hectares per year in 2010.
- How does Brazil rank for annual deforestation?
- Brazil ranks 1st out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Brazil 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 deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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