Annual deforestation in New Zealand
New Zealand: Annual deforestation was 10,100 hectares per year in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
10,100 hectares per year
World rank
39th
of 112 countries
All-time high
18,030 hectares per year
in 2000
All-time low
1,260 hectares per year
in 2015
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand stood at 10,100 hectares per year.
That represents a change of up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in New Zealand peaked at 18,030 hectares per year in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1,260 hectares per year, in 2015.
New Zealand ranks 39th of 112 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Annual deforestation in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15,480 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 18,030 hectares per year | +16.5% |
| 2010 | 8,610 hectares per year | -52.2% |
| 2015 | 1,260 hectares per year | -85.4% |
| 2020 | 10,100 hectares per year | +701.6% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 10,100 hectares per year is above the median for high income countries, which is 40 hectares per year, 252.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 10,100 hectares per year is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6,950 hectares per year, 1.5× the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15,480 hectares per year | 15,480 hectares per year | 15,480 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 18,030 hectares per year | 18,030 hectares per year | 18,030 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 4,935 hectares per year | 1,260 hectares per year | 8,610 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 10,100 hectares per year | 10,100 hectares per year | 10,100 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More environment data for New Zealand
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2131 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 1.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.379 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.474 % 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 -0.9337 % 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 New Zealand?
- Annual deforestation in New Zealand was 10,100 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 18,030 hectares per year in 2000.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,260 hectares per year in 2015.
- How does New Zealand rank for annual deforestation?
- New Zealand ranks 39th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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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