Annual deforestation in Canada
Canada: Annual deforestation was 50,520 hectares per year in 2020. ▬ Flat
Latest (2020)
50,520 hectares per year
World rank
25th
of 112 countries
All-time high
55,640 hectares per year
in 2015
All-time low
48,190 hectares per year
in 2010
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in Canada, 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
In 2020, annual deforestation in Canada stood at 50,520 hectares per year.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Canada peaked at 55,640 hectares per year in 2015 and was at its lowest, 48,190 hectares per year, in 2010.
Canada ranks 25th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Annual deforestation in Canada, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54,560 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 50,850 hectares per year | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 48,190 hectares per year | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 55,640 hectares per year | +15.5% |
| 2020 | 50,520 hectares per year | -9.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 50,520 hectares per year is above the median for high income countries, which is 40 hectares per year, 1263.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54,560 hectares per year | 54,560 hectares per year | 54,560 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 50,850 hectares per year | 50,850 hectares per year | 50,850 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 51,915 hectares per year | 48,190 hectares per year | 55,640 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 50,520 hectares per year | 50,520 hectares per year | 50,520 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More environment data for Canada
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.642 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.96 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.7 % 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 -0.3398 % 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 Canada?
- Annual deforestation in Canada was 50,520 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 55,640 hectares per year in 2015.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 48,190 hectares per year in 2010.
- How does Canada rank for annual deforestation?
- Canada ranks 25th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada 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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