Annual deforestation in Madagascar
Madagascar: Annual deforestation was 135,090 hectares per year in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
135,090 hectares per year
World rank
11th
of 112 countries
All-time high
164,140 hectares per year
in 2010
All-time low
66,280 hectares per year
in 1990
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in Madagascar, 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
Madagascar recorded 135,090 hectares per year for annual deforestation in 2020.
That represents a change of down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Madagascar peaked at 164,140 hectares per year in 2010 and was at its lowest, 66,280 hectares per year, in 1990.
That places Madagascar 11th out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Annual deforestation in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66,280 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 116,370 hectares per year | +75.6% |
| 2010 | 164,140 hectares per year | +41.1% |
| 2015 | 145,530 hectares per year | -11.3% |
| 2020 | 135,090 hectares per year | -7.2% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 135,090 hectares per year is above the median for low income countries, which is 95,920 hectares per year, 1.4× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 135,090 hectares per year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,520 hectares per year, 2.9× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66,280 hectares per year | 66,280 hectares per year | 66,280 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 116,370 hectares per year | 116,370 hectares per year | 116,370 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 154,835 hectares per year | 145,530 hectares per year | 164,140 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 135,090 hectares per year | 135,090 hectares per year | 135,090 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
More environment data for Madagascar
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.297 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.17 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2369 % 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 -1.01 % 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 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual deforestation in Madagascar?
- Annual deforestation in Madagascar was 135,090 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 Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 164,140 hectares per year in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 66,280 hectares per year in 1990.
- How does Madagascar rank for annual deforestation?
- Madagascar ranks 11th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Madagascar 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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