Annual deforestation in Jamaica
Jamaica: Annual deforestation was 460 hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Annual deforestation in Jamaica, 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 Jamaica is 460 hectares per year, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Jamaica peaked at 890 hectares per year in 1990 and was at its lowest, 460 hectares per year, in 2020.
That places Jamaica 70th out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Annual deforestation in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 890 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 680 hectares per year | -23.6% |
| 2010 | 620 hectares per year | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 540 hectares per year | -12.9% |
| 2020 | 460 hectares per year | -14.8% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 460 hectares per year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8,515 hectares per year, 5% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 460 hectares per year is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 22,700 hectares per year, 2% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 890 hectares per year | 890 hectares per year | 890 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 680 hectares per year | 680 hectares per year | 680 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 580 hectares per year | 540 hectares per year | 620 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 460 hectares per year | 460 hectares per year | 460 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More environment data for Jamaica
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.284 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.76 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.23 % 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 -0.7158 % 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 Jamaica?
- Annual deforestation in Jamaica was 460 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 890 hectares per year in 1990.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 460 hectares per year in 2020.
- How does Jamaica rank for annual deforestation?
- Jamaica ranks 70th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica 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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