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%.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 4,371 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.01 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 572.27 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 37.74 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 108.11 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 4.39 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 861.61 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 1.01 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 2.4 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 135.23 Mt CO2e (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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