Annual deforestation in India
India: Annual deforestation was 588,000 hectares per year in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
588,000 hectares per year
World rank
2nd
of 112 countries
All-time high
668,400 hectares per year
in 2010
All-time low
384,000 hectares per year
in 1990
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in India, 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
The most recent figure for annual deforestation in India is 588,000 hectares per year, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in India peaked at 668,400 hectares per year in 2010 and was at its lowest, 384,000 hectares per year, in 1990.
That places India 2nd out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Annual deforestation in India, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 384,000 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 629,500 hectares per year | +63.9% |
| 2010 | 668,400 hectares per year | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 661,800 hectares per year | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 588,000 hectares per year | -11.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 588,000 hectares per year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14,965 hectares per year, 39.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 384,000 hectares per year | 384,000 hectares per year | 384,000 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 629,500 hectares per year | 629,500 hectares per year | 629,500 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 665,100 hectares per year | 661,800 hectares per year | 668,400 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 588,000 hectares per year | 588,000 hectares per year | 588,000 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More environment data for India
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 11.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 12.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.954 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.92 % 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 1.12 % 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 India?
- Annual deforestation in India was 588,000 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 668,400 hectares per year in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 384,000 hectares per year in 1990.
- How does India rank for annual deforestation?
- India ranks 2nd out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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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