Annual deforestation in Switzerland
Switzerland: Annual deforestation was 1,050 hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
1,050 hectares per year
World rank
66th
of 112 countries
All-time high
2,660 hectares per year
in 2000
All-time low
1,050 hectares per year
in 2015
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in Switzerland, 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
Switzerland recorded 1,050 hectares per year for annual deforestation in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 45.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Switzerland peaked at 2,660 hectares per year in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1,050 hectares per year, in 2015.
Switzerland ranks 66th of 112 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Annual deforestation in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,700 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 2,660 hectares per year | +56.5% |
| 2010 | 1,940 hectares per year | -27.1% |
| 2015 | 1,050 hectares per year | -45.9% |
| 2020 | 1,050 hectares per year | +0.0% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 1,050 hectares per year is above the median for high income countries, which is 40 hectares per year, 26.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 1,050 hectares per year is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 500 hectares per year, 2.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,700 hectares per year | 1,700 hectares per year | 1,700 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 2,660 hectares per year | 2,660 hectares per year | 2,660 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 1,495 hectares per year | 1,050 hectares per year | 1,940 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 1,050 hectares per year | 1,050 hectares per year | 1,050 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More environment data for Switzerland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2925 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.4333 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.458 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.33 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2741 % 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 0.0914 % 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 Switzerland?
- Annual deforestation in Switzerland was 1,050 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 2,660 hectares per year in 2000.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,050 hectares per year in 2015.
- How does Switzerland rank for annual deforestation?
- Switzerland ranks 66th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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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