Annual deforestation in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Annual deforestation was 53,000 hectares per year in 2020. ▼ Falling
Annual deforestation in Zimbabwe, 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 Zimbabwe is 53,000 hectares per year, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Zimbabwe peaked at 105,720 hectares per year in 1990 and was at its lowest, 53,000 hectares per year, in 2020.
That places Zimbabwe 24th out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Annual deforestation in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 105,720 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 105,720 hectares per year | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 59,670 hectares per year | -43.6% |
| 2015 | 54,330 hectares per year | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 53,000 hectares per year | -2.4% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 53,000 hectares per year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14,965 hectares per year, 3.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 53,000 hectares per year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,520 hectares per year, 1.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 105,720 hectares per year | 105,720 hectares per year | 105,720 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 105,720 hectares per year | 105,720 hectares per year | 105,720 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 57,000 hectares per year | 54,330 hectares per year | 59,670 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 53,000 hectares per year | 53,000 hectares per year | 53,000 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More environment data for Zimbabwe
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.311 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.06 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.19 % 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 1.53 % 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 Zimbabwe?
- Annual deforestation in Zimbabwe was 53,000 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 105,720 hectares per year in 1990.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 53,000 hectares per year in 2020.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for annual deforestation?
- Zimbabwe ranks 24th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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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