Annual deforestation in Germany
Germany: Annual deforestation was 3,200 hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Annual deforestation in Germany, 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
Germany recorded 3,200 hectares per year for annual deforestation in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 44.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Germany peaked at 6,800 hectares per year in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3,200 hectares per year, in 2020.
That places Germany 56th out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Annual deforestation in Germany, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6,800 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 5,830 hectares per year | -14.3% |
| 2010 | 5,800 hectares per year | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 4,200 hectares per year | -27.6% |
| 2020 | 3,200 hectares per year | -23.8% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3,200 hectares per year is above the median for high income countries, which is 40 hectares per year, 80.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3,200 hectares per year is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 500 hectares per year, 6.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6,800 hectares per year | 6,800 hectares per year | 6,800 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 5,830 hectares per year | 5,830 hectares per year | 5,830 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 5,000 hectares per year | 4,200 hectares per year | 5,800 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 3,200 hectares per year | 3,200 hectares per year | 3,200 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More environment data for Germany
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.613 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.65 % 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 -0.0079 % 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 Germany?
- Annual deforestation in Germany was 3,200 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 6,800 hectares per year in 1990.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,200 hectares per year in 2020.
- How does Germany rank for annual deforestation?
- Germany ranks 56th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany 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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