Annual deforestation in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Annual deforestation was 4,500 hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
4,500 hectares per year
World rank
51st
of 112 countries
All-time high
10,030 hectares per year
in 2010
All-time low
4,310 hectares per year
in 2000
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in Costa Rica, 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
Costa Rica recorded 4,500 hectares per year for annual deforestation in 2020.
The figure is down 55.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Costa Rica peaked at 10,030 hectares per year in 2010 and was at its lowest, 4,310 hectares per year, in 2000.
That places Costa Rica 51st out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9,290 hectares per year | 9,290 hectares per year | 9,290 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 4,310 hectares per year | 4,310 hectares per year | 4,310 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 7,265 hectares per year | 4,500 hectares per year | 10,030 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 4,500 hectares per year | 4,500 hectares per year | 4,500 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More environment data for Costa Rica
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 17.08 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.33 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 4.38 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0273 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0.0074 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0131 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 6.38 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0006 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0288 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.92 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual deforestation in Costa Rica?
- Annual deforestation in Costa Rica was 4,500 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 10,030 hectares per year in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,310 hectares per year in 2000.
- How does Costa Rica rank for annual deforestation?
- Costa Rica ranks 51st out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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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