Agriculture-driven deforestation in Belize
Belize: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 11,725 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Belize, 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 Belize is 11,725 hectares, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 7.5% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Belize peaked at 16,997 hectares in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3,218 hectares, in 2006.
That places Belize 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Belize, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4,387 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 8,238 hectares | +87.8% |
| 2003 | 4,909 hectares | -40.4% |
| 2004 | 3,768 hectares | -23.2% |
| 2005 | 5,844 hectares | +55.1% |
| 2006 | 3,218 hectares | -44.9% |
| 2007 | 8,288 hectares | +157.5% |
| 2008 | 6,931 hectares | -16.4% |
| 2009 | 8,490 hectares | +22.5% |
| 2010 | 7,967 hectares | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 16,997 hectares | +113.3% |
| 2012 | 9,964 hectares | -41.4% |
| 2013 | 12,828 hectares | +28.7% |
| 2014 | 14,199 hectares | +10.7% |
| 2015 | 10,456 hectares | -26.4% |
| 2016 | 14,712 hectares | +40.7% |
| 2017 | 11,113 hectares | -24.5% |
| 2018 | 8,915 hectares | -19.8% |
| 2019 | 13,952 hectares | +56.5% |
| 2020 | 15,633 hectares | +12.1% |
| 2021 | 6,988 hectares | -55.3% |
| 2022 | 6,868 hectares | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 12,670 hectares | +84.5% |
| 2024 | 11,725 hectares | -7.5% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 11,725 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 460.26 hectares, 25.5× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Belize's 11,725 hectares is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,620 hectares, 7.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,008 hectares | 3,218 hectares | 8,490 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 12,110 hectares | 7,967 hectares | 16,997 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,777 hectares | 6,868 hectares | 15,633 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More environment data for Belize
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.66 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.87 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.287 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.35 % 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 0.0489 % 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 Belize?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Belize was 11,725 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 Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 16,997 hectares in 2011.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,218 hectares in 2006.
- How does Belize rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Belize ranks 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belize 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.