Annual deforestation in Tanzania
Tanzania: Annual deforestation was 469,000 hectares per year in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
469,000 hectares per year
World rank
3rd
of 112 countries
All-time high
469,000 hectares per year
in 2015
All-time low
403,000 hectares per year
in 1990
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in Tanzania, 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 Tanzania is 469,000 hectares per year, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Tanzania peaked at 469,000 hectares per year in 2015 and was at its lowest, 403,000 hectares per year, in 1990.
Tanzania ranks 3rd of 112 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Annual deforestation in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 403,000 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 403,000 hectares per year | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 403,000 hectares per year | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 469,000 hectares per year | +16.4% |
| 2020 | 469,000 hectares per year | +0.0% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 469,000 hectares per year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14,965 hectares per year, 31.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 469,000 hectares per year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,520 hectares per year, 10.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 403,000 hectares per year | 403,000 hectares per year | 403,000 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 403,000 hectares per year | 403,000 hectares per year | 403,000 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 436,000 hectares per year | 403,000 hectares per year | 469,000 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 469,000 hectares per year | 469,000 hectares per year | 469,000 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
- 1 Brazil 3.26 million hectares per year compare
- 2 India 588,000 hectares per year compare
- 4 Democratic Republic of Congo 283,500 hectares per year compare
- 5 China 274,000 hectares per year compare
- 6 Mozambique 267,030 hectares per year compare
More environment data for Tanzania
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.06 % 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 5.16 % 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)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual deforestation in Tanzania?
- Annual deforestation in Tanzania was 469,000 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 469,000 hectares per year in 2015.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 403,000 hectares per year in 1990.
- How does Tanzania rank for annual deforestation?
- Tanzania ranks 3rd out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania 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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