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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 591.45 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 21.75 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 84.7 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.4769 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 43.21 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.1578 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 144.58 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.104 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1978 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 15.7 Mt CO2e (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.