Annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Annual deforestation was 283,500 hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
283,500 hectares per year
World rank
4th
of 112 countries
All-time high
1.01 million hectares per year
in 2010
All-time low
283,500 hectares per year
in 2020
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation 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
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 283,500 hectares per year for annual deforestation in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 71.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 1.01 million hectares per year in 2010 and was at its lowest, 283,500 hectares per year, in 2020.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 4th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 675,420 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 675,590 hectares per year | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.01 million hectares per year | +49.0% |
| 2015 | 283,970 hectares per year | -71.8% |
| 2020 | 283,500 hectares per year | -0.2% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 283,500 hectares per year is above the median for low income countries, which is 95,920 hectares per year, 3.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 283,500 hectares per year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,520 hectares per year, 6.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 675,420 hectares per year | 675,420 hectares per year | 675,420 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 675,590 hectares per year | 675,590 hectares per year | 675,590 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 645,155 hectares per year | 283,970 hectares per year | 1.01 million hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 283,500 hectares per year | 283,500 hectares per year | 283,500 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 deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo was 283,500 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 1.01 million hectares per year in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 283,500 hectares per year in 2020.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for annual deforestation?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 4th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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