Agriculture-driven deforestation in Australia
Australia: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 4,652 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Australia, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agriculture-driven deforestation in Australia is 4,652 hectares, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.1% on the previous year and down 67.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Australia peaked at 17,006 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 4,652 hectares, in 2024.
Australia ranks 53rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Australia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8,141 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 11,719 hectares | +43.9% |
| 2003 | 17,006 hectares | +45.1% |
| 2004 | 14,450 hectares | -15.0% |
| 2005 | 13,446 hectares | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 15,154 hectares | +12.7% |
| 2007 | 15,890 hectares | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 12,802 hectares | -19.4% |
| 2009 | 13,852 hectares | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 8,936 hectares | -35.5% |
| 2011 | 9,330 hectares | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 10,697 hectares | +14.7% |
| 2013 | 7,938 hectares | -25.8% |
| 2014 | 14,276 hectares | +79.9% |
| 2015 | 8,941 hectares | -37.4% |
| 2016 | 15,538 hectares | +73.8% |
| 2017 | 11,414 hectares | -26.5% |
| 2018 | 8,932 hectares | -21.7% |
| 2019 | 12,096 hectares | +35.4% |
| 2020 | 8,021 hectares | -33.7% |
| 2021 | 6,114 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2022 | 5,129 hectares | -16.1% |
| 2023 | 5,064 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 4,652 hectares | -8.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 4,652 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.13 hectares, 70.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Australia's 4,652 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,101 hectares, 4.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13,607 hectares | 8,141 hectares | 17,006 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 10,810 hectares | 7,938 hectares | 15,538 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,796 hectares | 4,652 hectares | 8,021 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % 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 0.0861 % 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 agriculture-driven deforestation in Australia?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Australia was 4,652 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 17,006 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,652 hectares in 2024.
- How does Australia rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Australia ranks 53rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Agriculture-driven deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Long-term, permanent tree cover loss for small- to large-scale agriculture.