Annual deforestation in China
China: Annual deforestation was 274,000 hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Annual deforestation in China, 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 China stood at 274,000 hectares per year. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in China peaked at 333,870 hectares per year in 2015 and was at its lowest, 274,000 hectares per year, in 2020.
China ranks 5th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 327,540 hectares per year | 327,540 hectares per year | 327,540 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 312,760 hectares per year | 312,760 hectares per year | 312,760 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 331,920 hectares per year | 329,970 hectares per year | 333,870 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 274,000 hectares per year | 274,000 hectares per year | 274,000 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 15,536 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 11.03 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 498.98 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 32.75 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 736.76 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 3.9 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 1,485 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 4.13 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 5.54 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 195.67 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual deforestation in China?
- Annual deforestation in China was 274,000 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 333,870 hectares per year in 2015.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 274,000 hectares per year in 2020.
- How does China rank for annual deforestation?
- China ranks 5th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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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