Annual deforestation in South Korea
South Korea: Annual deforestation was 3,800 hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
3,800 hectares per year
World rank
54th
of 112 countries
All-time high
10,000 hectares per year
in 2010
All-time low
3,800 hectares per year
in 2020
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in South Korea, 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
In 2020, annual deforestation in South Korea stood at 3,800 hectares per year. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 62.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in South Korea peaked at 10,000 hectares per year in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3,800 hectares per year, in 2020.
South Korea ranks 54th of 112 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Annual deforestation in South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7,500 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 8,900 hectares per year | +18.7% |
| 2010 | 10,000 hectares per year | +12.4% |
| 2015 | 7,770 hectares per year | -22.3% |
| 2020 | 3,800 hectares per year | -51.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 3,800 hectares per year is above the median for high income countries, which is 40 hectares per year, 95.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 3,800 hectares per year is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6,950 hectares per year, 55% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7,500 hectares per year | 7,500 hectares per year | 7,500 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 8,900 hectares per year | 8,900 hectares per year | 8,900 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 8,885 hectares per year | 7,770 hectares per year | 10,000 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 3,800 hectares per year | 3,800 hectares per year | 3,800 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2791 % 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 -2.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2415 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual deforestation in South Korea?
- Annual deforestation in South Korea was 3,800 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10,000 hectares per year in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,800 hectares per year in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for annual deforestation?
- South Korea ranks 54th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).